Run a shelf count without losing zero counts

An untouched item and an item that was counted as zero mean different things. A useful stocktake must preserve that distinction and show the variance without silently editing expected inventory.

Prepare your input

Import expected stock with SKU and expected quantity, plus optional barcode and title. Keep leading-zero identifiers as text. If locations need separate counts, prepare separate inputs; the current import rejects duplicate SKUs and ambiguous codes.

Work through the task

Scan or type an identifier and use Add quantity for a positive whole number. Use Set counted quantity for an absolute count, including zero. The app marks an explicit zero as counted while an untouched item remains not counted. Undo last scan can reverse either operation. Save a session to resume later and export expected, counted and variance columns for review.

Example to try

For SKU 00042, expected stock is six. A count of zero means someone checked the shelf and found none; an untouched row means the shelf has not been checked. If a recount finds two, use Set counted quantity rather than adding two to an earlier mistaken count. The exported variance is then minus four against the unchanged expected six.

Check the result

At the end of a shelf, filter for items never counted, revisit large positive or negative variances and have another person recount disputed products. Reconcile the CSV with the inventory system through its own controlled import workflow.

Know the current limits

Stock Count Companion does not write to an ERP or store. Physical scanner behavior still needs on-site testing.