Stop guessing stock between outlets
“We thought we had three bottles” is not a stock system. It is a hope. Multi-outlet SMEs need one catalog and a count per location — not three WhatsApp groups arguing about the same shampoo.
The real problem
Most shops start with a notebook or a shared sheet. It works until you add a second outlet or a back-room warehouse. Then you get:
- Two truths — the till thinks you have stock; the shelf does not.
- Silent transfers — someone “sent six” and nobody recorded it.
- Reorder drama — you buy late because nobody owned the reorder level.
Inventory in Oflync is built for that moment. It is included with Starter / Standard platform plans (and available on its own). See the Inventory help guide.
One catalog, many locations
Create items once: name, SKU, optional barcode, unit, cost, selling price, and a reorder level. That catalog is shared. Stock lives on locations — outlets you onboard, plus warehouses you add with address and in-charge.
A new shop under Outlets does not automatically appear in Inventory. Open Inventory → Onboard outlets when that branch should track stock. That avoids empty locations cluttering a brand-new shop.
Movements you can audit
| Action | When you use it |
|---|---|
| Receive | Opening stock or a supplier delivery lands |
| Issue | Goods leave for use or sale (Billing Desk can post barcode issues later) |
| Adjust | Stock count differs from the ledger |
| Transfer | Move units from warehouse → outlet (or outlet → outlet) |
Every movement is a line you can explain later. That is the difference between “I think we transferred” and “we transferred 12 on Tuesday.”
Scan and labels
Plug in a USB keyboard-wedge scanner — the same scan API looks up barcode or SKU. Print labels (Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, or QR) from Inventory → Labels so the sticker matches what Scan expects.
If half your retail wall still has handwritten price tags, start with the top twenty SKUs. Label those first. The rest can wait.
A practical first week
- Onboard the outlets that actually hold stock.
- Add your top SKUs with reorder levels that match how fast they move.
- Receive opening quantities on each location.
- Run one transfer from warehouse to shop so the team sees the pattern.
- Put the Scan shortcut where cashiers stand.
Pair Inventory with Billing Desk for counter sales and Cashflow for what you spent on stock. The shelf count is not cashflow — keep those ideas separate.
Owners who stop guessing stock stop buying panic orders. That is usually enough ROI for the first quarter.