～Understand how physical stocktaking helps retailers in Thailand maintain the right inventory level, identify shrinkage and inventory overage, and strengthen day-to-day store management.～
Purpose of Stocktaking ②: Improving Inventory Management Accuracy
Another important purpose of stocktaking is to improve product and inventory management. In particular, understanding the actual quantity of stock is directly connected to day-to-day store operations.
If inventory levels are too low, out-of-stock situations may occur, resulting in lost sales opportunities. On the other hand, if inventory levels are too high, products may become obsolete, require markdowns, or be discarded, putting pressure on profitability.
Maintaining the right inventory level is not always easy. Retailers must consider various factors such as sales trends, ordering frequency, delivery lead times, shelf space, promotional activities, and seasonal demand.
In Thailand, retailers operating modern retail formats such as convenience stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, and shopping malls also need to respond to demand fluctuations affected by tourism, public holidays, seasonal campaigns, year-end promotions, and major shopping events.
In recent years, more retailers have introduced automated ordering systems. These systems calculate order quantities based on current inventory levels and sales forecasts. However, if the system inventory does not match the actual stock on hand, the system cannot place accurate orders.
To make effective use of automation, retailers must first ensure that their inventory data is correct. This is why physical stocktaking remains essential, even in stores using digital inventory management systems.
Stocktaking Helps Identify and Manage Inventory Loss
Stocktaking is also important for identifying shrinkage, or inventory loss caused by factors other than recorded sales or disposal. By comparing book inventory with actual inventory, retailers can detect products that have been lost for reasons other than sales or disposal.
Inventory loss may be caused by administrative errors, such as mistakes in receiving goods, sales processing errors, employee misconduct, or external theft such as shoplifting. These losses are not always discovered when they occur. In many cases, they only become visible through a stocktake.
There are also cases of “inventory overage,” where actual inventory is higher than the inventory recorded in the system. At first glance, this may appear to increase profit. However, it may indicate errors in inventory records, store operations, or the stocktaking process itself.
Accurate stocktaking helps retailers identify not only inventory loss but also inventory overage. This enables businesses to review operational issues and improve the quality of store management.
Stocktaking Is a “Report Card” for Store Operations
Stocktaking is much more than simply counting products. It supports multiple areas of retail management, including profit confirmation for financial closing, maintaining optimal stock levels, identifying inventory loss, and preventing fraud.
Through accurate physical stocktaking, companies can obtain reliable inventory data. This data becomes an important foundation for daily product management, more accurate ordering, improved store operations, and better profit control.
In other words, stocktaking can be seen as a “report card” that reflects the level of inventory management within a store.
For retailers in Thailand, where operational efficiency and inventory accuracy are important concerns across convenience stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, shopping malls, and other retail formats, improving stocktake accuracy can directly contribute to stronger retail performance.
For Companies Facing Challenges with Stocktaking
Many companies conduct stocktaking in-house but face challenges such as heavy workload, inconsistent counting accuracy, and operational disruption. Using inventory count sheets or stocktake templates can help standardise the process. However, for companies seeking a more accurate and efficient approach, outsourcing to a professional stocktaking company can be an effective solution.
AJIS supports retailers as a professional stocktaking service provider, covering the process from product counting to data delivery. With extensive experience and specialised know-how, AJIS helps improve store efficiency and inventory management accuracy.
For more information about our stocktaking services, please refer to the page below.
👉 Stocktaking service – AJIS Thailand
Read previous article: Column 1 Why Is Stocktaking Necessary for Retailers?
Editor: AJIS Group
AJIS Group is a global corporate group led by AJIS Co., Ltd., which has been a leading provider of stocktaking services and retail support services in Japan. The Group operates in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
With a proven track record of working with more than 3,000 companies and supporting a cumulative total of over one million stores annually, AJIS Group helps address a wide range of challenges faced by the retail and distribution industries. Its services include stocktaking, store operations support, sales floor improvement, and promotional support.
By providing practical services tailored to the market characteristics of each country and region, AJIS Group contributes to improving store operational efficiency and enhancing the value of sales floors.
