Guide · a count you can trust
How to run a stocktake on a phone
A stocktake fails for three reasons: the expected number is visible, uncounted items are treated as zero, and the count is done in one exhausted evening instead of ten quiet minutes. Fix those and the number holds.
The ten-minute method
- Count one location at a time. Start with the stockroom; the shelf is next.
- Count blind. Do not look at the expected quantity. Count what is physically there, in the unit you sell it in.
- Skip what you cannot reach. A skipped item keeps its current stock; it never becomes zero.
- Review the variance before submitting. Large differences are usually a wrong unit or a delivery that was never recorded, not a miscount.
- Submit once. Each counted item becomes one movement with your name, the device and the time.
Printable count sheet
If the phone battery dies, use this sheet and enter the numbers afterwards. Print it (Ctrl/Cmd+P); it fits one page.
Stocktake sheet
| Item | SKU / barcode | Counted | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Location: ____________________ Counted by: ____________________ Date: ____________
The three mistakes
1. Showing the expected number. People confirm what the screen says. Hide it.
2. Setting uncounted to zero. A blank row means "not counted", not "none left".
3. Counting everything at once. Count the stockroom on Thursday and the shelf on Friday; both take minutes and neither needs an evening.