Why You Should Stop Using Spreadsheet to Manage Stock in Your Ecommerce Business

Why You Should Stop Using Spreadsheet to Manage Stock in Your Ecommerce Business

As part of any ecommerce business, it's vitally important that your stock levels can be effectively monitored. Without the appropriate systems in place, customers could become dissatisfied due to products becoming unavailable or delays in processing and shipping orders. Although spreadsheets may seem adequate when starting out, as your business expands more comprehensive solutions are required.

Spreadsheets have their place in the workplace, offering formulas, templates, and straightforward tools for inventory management. However, spreadsheets were not originally designed with modern business needs in mind and therefore may present unique challenges when used to manage this crucial aspect of business operations.

One of the key difficulties associated with using spreadsheets to manage stock is their inherent inaccuracy due to human mistakes. Even an experienced office professional may make errors when manually keying data into a spreadsheet, causing ripple effects throughout its contents. Furthermore, their lack of an audit trail makes it more challenging than necessary to trace errors back their source.

Spreadsheets present another significant challenge when it comes to managing inventory data: they take too much time for updates and processing of inventory data to be updated in real-time, draining valuable team resources in the meantime. Specialist inventory management software offers real-time updates and processing, eliminating much of this unnecessary overhead required to keep an eye on stock levels.

One major limitation of spreadsheets when managing inventory is their limited ability to provide an accurate representation of real-time inventory levels. A spreadsheet only gives an accurate picture when updated; this can become problematic when dealing with fast turnover inventory. A specialized inventory management system, on the other hand, can be set up automatically adding incoming stock deliveries while subtracting outgoing sales; maintaining accurate real-time stock numbers across all sales channels.

Companies searching for an easier and more effective means of overseeing their inventory should look no further than specialized stock control and order management systems as the perfect way to do this. Integrating eCommerce platforms, ERP systems, carrier and warehouse management systems and carrier tracking software together, a centralized inventory management system can ensure all sales channels are working in unison. Barcode scanning can quickly update stock levels across all channels, giving businesses immediate and accurate insight into inventory for every sale. Utilizing an inventory management system can also minimize stock-outs and allow sales staff to make firm commitments on delivery times for their customers, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction and profits. Contact eTail Support now for more information about how a comprehensive automated inventory management system could benefit your business.