Cycle Counts
Plan and execute physical inventory audits, count items, and reconcile discrepancies.
Counting Process
Executing a Cycle Count Web App Counting Open the cycle count from Warehouse → Cycle Counts Click Start Counting For each item: Go to the listed location Count the physical quantity Enter the count in the system After all items are counted, click Submit Count Mobile App Counting Open the mobile app → WMS Hub → Cycle Counts Tap the assigned cycle count For each item: Scan the location barcode Scan the product barcode Enter the physical count Tap Next Tap Complete when finished Blind Counts vs Guided Counts Blind Count: The counter does NOT see the system quantity. They enter what they physically count. This prevents bias. Guided Count: The counter sees the expected quantity and just confirms or adjusts. Faster but potentially less accurate. Tips for Accurate Counting Count during low-activity periods Don't move items while counting Use barcode scanning to confirm product identity Double-count high-value items Document any damaged or misplaced items
How Do I Run a Cycle Count?
How Do I Run a Cycle Count? Cycle counts are periodic physical inventory audits that verify system accuracy without shutting down operations. What Is a Cycle Count? Unlike a full physical inventory that counts everything at once, cycle counts focus on a subset of inventory on a rotating schedule. This means: No warehouse shutdown required Higher accuracy through regular checking Issues caught and corrected quickly Creating a Cycle Count Go to Warehouse → Cycle Counts Click + New Cycle Count Select the Warehouse Choose which products or locations to count Set priority and assign to a counter Click Create Cycle Count Statuses Status Description Pending Created, waiting to be started Assigned Assigned to a team member In Progress Counting is underway Complete All items counted and reconciled Cancelled Count was cancelled ABC Analysis for Scheduling Not all inventory is created equal. Use the ABC method to prioritize what to count and when: A-Items (High Value / Fast Moving) — 20% of items, 80% of value. Count weekly or monthly. B-Items (Moderate Movement) — 30% of items, 15% of value. Count quarterly. C-Items (Slow Moving) — 50% of items, 5% of value. Count semi-annually. Product Type Frequency High-value items (A) Weekly Fast-moving items (A/B) Bi-weekly Moderate items (B) Monthly Slow-moving items (C) Quarterly All locations Quarterly full sweep Common Pitfalls Counting on Paper — Always use the mobile app for real-time verification and automatic discrepancy detection. Ignoring Damages — Use the "Damaged" status during counting to trigger disposal or return workflows. Counting During Peak Hours — Schedule counts during low-activity periods for maximum accuracy. Tip: Use the mobile app for cycle counts. The barcode scanner makes counting faster and reduces data entry errors.
Reconciliation
Reconciling Cycle Count Results After counting is complete, reconciliation compares physical counts to system records and resolves discrepancies. Review Discrepancies The reconciliation screen shows: Product Location System Qty Counted Variance Widget A A1-S2-B3 50 48 -2 Widget B A1-S2-B4 25 25 0 Widget C A2-S1-B1 10 12 +2 Approving Adjustments For each discrepancy: Review the variance Investigate if needed (check for misplaced items, damage, etc.) Accept the physical count (adjusts system to match) Or Reject and investigate further After Reconciliation Accepted adjustments: Create stock movement records (type: "Adjustment") Update system quantities to match physical counts Log the reason as "Cycle Count Reconciliation" Tracking Accuracy Over Time Monitor your inventory accuracy rate: Accuracy = (Items with zero variance / Total items counted) x 100% A healthy target is 95%+ accuracy. If accuracy drops, investigate: Are receiving procedures being followed? Are pick lists completed correctly? Are there unauthorized movements? Tip: Address root causes, not just symptoms. A consistent -2 variance on a product might indicate a packaging issue where boxes contain fewer items than labeled.