Managing stock across multiple locations can feel like a game of chess—one wrong move, and everything can come crashing down. If you’re in the fabrication industry, you know how critical it is to keep track of every bolt, screw, and sheet of metal, no matter where they’re stored.
But how do you do it effectively? Let’s talk about some strategies and best practices for managing multi-location stock management, all while we show WorkGuru’s powerful tools.
Deciding How to Manage Your Warehouses
First things first: Do you really need multiple warehouses? This is a big question that every business should ask before diving into multi-location stock management. The decision boils down to two key factors: accuracy versus convenience.
The Laziness Factor
Let’s be honest—sometimes, managing multiple stock locations can become a hassle.
Picture this: you’ve set up each van in your fleet as a separate warehouse. Stock levels will be accurate for the first couple of days, and transfers will happen as they should. But then, things start to slip. Installers stop logging their stock movements, and suddenly, your carefully managed system is out of whack. It’s not a WorkGuru problem; it’s a human problem.
So, what’s the solution? Instead of treating each van as a separate warehouse, you treat them as extensions of your central warehouse. All stock is logged centrally, and installers simply check items in and out of the central system. This way, your inventory stays accurate, and you avoid the pitfalls of manual transfers.
On the flip side, if your warehouses are physically separate—say, one in Brisbane and another in Sydney—then a multi-location setup might be unavoidable. In this case, WorkGuru’s branch transfer tools can help you keep everything in sync.
Tools and Technologies for Efficient Stock Management
When you’re dealing with stock in multiple locations, having the right tools can make a big difference. WorkGuru provides a range of features designed to streamline this process:
Warehouse Transfers: This function allows you to transfer stock from one location to another with ease. It’s as simple as selecting the source and destination warehouses, scanning the items, and hitting "transfer."
Suppose your Brisbane warehouse has 50 steel beams, and you need 20 in Sydney. With WorkGuru’s warehouse transfer feature, you can easily move the beams, and the system automatically updates the stock at both locations. This way, you know the right amount gets to Sydney without any mistakes.
Barcode Scanning: WorkGuru’s system is fully compatible with barcode scanning, which makes tracking stock movements quick and accurate. While other competitors might struggle in this area, WorkGuru’s barcode integration keeps your stock data reliable and up-to-date.
In this case, picture this: a fabrication company with several warehouses uses barcodes for every item. When stock is received, moved, or used, it’s scanned, and the information is instantly updated in WorkGuru. This helps avoid mistakes from manual entry, keeps stock levels accurate and helps quickly find items in different locations.
Best Practices for Multi-Location Stock Tracking
Now, let’s talk about stock control best practices. Keeping your stock records accurate across multiple locations requires discipline and a solid system:
Separate Stock Takes: Each location needs its own stock take. You can’t do one stock take that covers all locations. This might sound like extra work, but it’s crucial for maintaining accuracy.
Log Stock Transfers: Whenever you move stock between locations, log the transfer in WorkGuru. If you don’t, you’ll end up with discrepancies—like trying to use stock at a location where it doesn’t exist.
Transfer Quantity and Value: Remember, transferring stock between warehouses isn’t just about moving physical items. It’s also about moving the associated value. WorkGuru handles this seamlessly, ensuring that your financial records stay accurate.
Implement Change Management: Stock management isn’t just about the tools—it’s also about how you use them. Implementing a new system like WorkGuru requires change management. Ensure your team is trained and committed to following the processes, or your stock records are incorrect.
How WorkGuru Simplifies Multi-Location Stock Management
So, how exactly does WorkGuru make multi-location stock management easier? Here’s where it gets interesting:
Real-Time Stock Levels: With WorkGuru, you get a real-time display of stock levels across all your locations. This means you can make informed decisions on the fly, whether pulling stock from the Brisbane warehouse or grabbing something from a van in the field. This is a key feature for real-time stock management.
Full Transaction History: WorkGuru keeps a complete transactional history for every product across every location. This isn’t just about knowing what you have on hand—it’s about understanding the flow of your materials, which is key to optimising your multi-location stock management.
Use Stock Without Transfers: One of WorkGuru's standout features is the ability to use stock from different warehouses in real-time without transferring it.
This last feature is especially helpful in fabrication. In this industry, various departments like welding, hydraulics, and painting could be considered separate warehouses. By choosing the location before using the stock in a project, you can keep everything organised without any unnecessary steps.
Conclusion: Keep Your Stock Management on Track
Managing stock across multiple locations doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right strategies and tools, like WorkGuru, you can keep everything running smoothly. Whether you decide to centralise your stock or manage it across different warehouses, staying consistent and ensuring your team is on board is key.
Ready to take control of your stock and eliminate the guesswork? Don’t let inefficiencies hold your business back. Start using WorkGuru today and see how seamless multi-location stock management can be. Click here to get started and keep your operations running smoothly.
