Inventory Management

Cycle Counting

Count inventory continuously without shutting down operations. Catch discrepancies before they become problems.

See How It Works

The Problem with Annual Inventory Counts

Operations Shut Down

Annual counts require stopping all picking, packing, and shipping. Lost revenue and delayed orders.

Problems Compound

Small discrepancies go unnoticed for months. By year-end, variances are massive and root causes are untraceable.

All Hands Required

Full warehouse counts need everyone counting simultaneously. Expensive overtime and contractor costs.

How Cycle Counting Works in Fulfil

Count portions of inventory on a rolling schedule. Operations continue uninterrupted.

Product Selection Methods

  • Fully count bins

    Select specific bins or all bin locations in a warehouse zone.

  • Selected products

    Choose products by SKU, template, or category.

  • Recent receipts

    Count recently received inventory to catch receiving errors early.

  • Previous counts

    Count products not counted within a specified period.

  • ABC classification

    Count high-value A items weekly, B items monthly, C items quarterly.

Count Visibility Modes

Full Visibility

Counter sees expected product and quantity. Fast but may introduce bias.

Partial Blind

Counter sees product but not expected quantity. Reduces counting bias.

Blind Count

Counter sees neither product nor quantity. Most accurate for audits.

Counting Capabilities

Mobile Scanning

Count from handheld devices or desktop. Scan barcodes to verify products.

Parallel Counting

Multiple users count simultaneously on the same cycle count.

RFID Support

Native RFID mode for high-speed counting of tagged inventory.

Scheduled Counts

Automate count creation on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules.

Cycle Count Workflow

1

Create Count

Select products or bins to count. Set visibility mode.

2

Count Inventory

Scan products and enter quantities via mobile or desktop.

3

Review Variances

System shows expected vs. counted. Investigate discrepancies.

4

Confirm & Adjust

Confirm count to update inventory and post accounting entries.

Common Questions

How often should I cycle count?
Most brands count A items (top 80% of revenue) weekly, B items monthly, and C items quarterly. High-velocity SKUs and items with frequent discrepancies should be counted more often. Use ABC classification to automate this prioritization.
What happens when I confirm a count with variances?
Confirming adjusts inventory levels immediately and posts accounting entries. Inventory moves to/from an adjustment location (typically Lost and Found). This is a point of no return. To correct mistakes, create a new adjustment count.
Can I count by lot number?
Yes. When counting products with lot tracking enabled, you can scan multiple lot numbers for the same product. The system tracks quantities per lot and adjusts accordingly.
Who can confirm cycle counts?
Only count owners or users with Inventory Administration permission can confirm counts. This separation of duties ensures counters cannot approve their own counts without oversight.

Related Features

Inventory Management

Complete inventory control with real-time tracking across all locations.

ABC Classification

Categorize products by value to prioritize cycle count frequency.

Lot Tracking

Track inventory by lot number and expiration date.

Ready to improve inventory accuracy?

See how Fulfil handles cycle counting with mobile scanning and automated schedules.

Request a Demo