Perpetual Inventory
What is Perpetual Inventory?
Perpetual Inventory is a management method where the stock record is updated in real-time with every transaction (receipt, dispatch, internal movement, or return). Unlike periodic inventory, which requires stopping operations for counting, perpetual inventory offers an exact view of stock at any moment.
Importance of Stock Accuracy
For a company that sells online (e-commerce), perpetual inventory is not a luxury—it's a necessity. If the system shows 1 unit available but it has already been sold without being written off, the next customer will have a negative experience.
Cycle Counting
The WMS uses perpetual inventory to suggest daily partial counts, maintaining reliability above 99% without closing the warehouse.
Cost Reduction
Less idle stock (excessive "safety stock") because data confidence is higher.