They recently completed their first major stocktake with the system since the move to the new platform, and were understandably anxious about using the new system, but David Clark was surprised at the ease and the speed at which the stocktake took place with the mobile app, especially performing the count with the shops open and continuing to trade.

David had this to say about the experience.

“In terms of setting up ready for the count, I think there was more anxiety this time, as it was the first full stock take we had undertaken as a multi-branch business since we migrated from Bransom.

As with anything, you get used to the systems you have known, so it was more just understanding the new method that Clarity uses. It just so happens, as with many things in life, actually it was a very, very quick process in the end.

As it was two weeks before the end of our financial year, we always undertake a full stock take. It is a daunting job, especially for the team here, as we do not close for stock take and just get it done as quickly as possible. The total number of stock items we checked was 5000.

One of the reasons I felt fairly confident about the process was the Clarity Stock Take App. It did work well, and quickly and efficiently registered the QR codes on each item. Each of us in the stores downloaded the app, and off we went, independently able to synchronise our findings to the system.

Of course there will be anomalies, but these can be pulled aside and easily sorted.

It was also an opportunity to reprint older tickets which have become untidy.

We found the app was very easy to use, the interface is quite understandable and you can just get on with it.

Overall, we used 7 devices across the business. Each device has to be setup to communicate to the system, but that does not take long to do. The app is a little challenging to get installed on android devices, and it did not work quite as well. Fortunately, we had enough Apple devices so we just used those.

At the end of the process, we found, as always, there are discrepancies. We had some which we had recorded more than the system thought, and some less. Each one was investigated and confirmed via the reconciliation process.

I was surprised actually, that it only took us just under 2 days to complete the stock take from start to finish, which we did this whilst the stores were open.

That’s a good thing about the app - you undertake a named section of the shop and synchronise to the system. If you get interrupted just pick up where you left off.

Would I recommend the stocktaking process to other potential clients?

I would, yes. Every business is different, so there will be different challenges for each. However, overall to have completed the stock take in just under 2 days is great and a big mandatory job ticked off.”

The stocktaking module is a standard part of the Evolution system, and can be used in the traditional ‘print and count’ list mode, with hand-held barcode scanners or with the mobile App as mentioned.