Software reduces stock-taking time

By Fredrick Obura

Taking stock, be it in a large, medium or small organisation, can be a tedious and expensive exercise.

The accounting process involved has seen many companies close for a period bringing business to a standstill literally.

But now with a modern IT system called AgilaSTORE, stock could be taken, reconciled and loaded to the stock database in a matter of hours. This saves time, costs and risks associated with inaccurate stock information.

Since stock is working capital, managers will find a ready ally in its use. The system permits the management to deploy more staff for other operations as staff employed to do data entry are freed.

AgilaSTORE system is a bar code scanning solution designed for rapid stock taking and modern management of stores and warehouses.

"It is a tailor made tool streamlining the processes of stock taking, goods delivery and dispatch for large or busy stores," says the Chief Executive Officer Salient Technologies Ltd Nguru Kabugi, a Kenyan company that has designed the system.

"With accurate stock information, managers will find that they are able to plan stock and the relationship with suppliers and customers," he says.

Less mistakes

The system provides a step-by-step computer based process for each of the operations it automates. This means staff are less prone to make mistakes as they can verify every step of the process.

"Supervisors can monitor progress of the stock taking by department, team or individual from a central console. Items missed can easily be identified," says Kabugi.

Stock figures are directly recorded in the database as they are counted on the shelves. After verification, data is uploaded to the live stock system electronically in seconds.

Old stock taking information, complete with the person responsible, time of the stock taken is maintained for future reference and to boost transparency. It works with Microsoft Retail Management System.