Ten questions that will help you choose the right stocktaker

George Armstrong, CEO at Scanmatix, advises The Hardware Journal readers on what questions they should ask before choosing a stocktaker.

If you’ve decided that you need a professional stocktaker to help you carry out your stocktake, the next step is choosing the right one. Here I suggest 10 questions you should ask before deciding on a provider.

1. What kind of support do I need?
   Perhaps you’ve decided to do the stocktake yourself and need to hire the equipment. Or maybe you’d also like an expert supervisor on hand to guide the operation. Alternatively, you may want to hand the whole process
   over to professionals. Make sure you talk to a company that can offer all these options and will advise on the best fit for you.
2. Does the stocktaking company have experience with my type of stock?
   Not all stocktakes take the same approach. It’s important that the company you are considering has experience with hardware and building materials stock, which has its own particular challenges.
3. What software do they use?
   Every stocktaking company claims to use the latest technology. Unfortunately, some don’t. That can leave your systems vulnerable to security issues, inefficiencies, and hacking. And it can raise problems of integration with your EPoS system.
4. What hardware do they use?
   Some stocktaking companies are still using 1D scanners, which have limited functionality and could affect the accuracy of the count. Ensure the company uses 2D laser scanners which can read all types of barcodes, including QR codes and poorly printed or faded codes.
5. What will the stocktaking company do with my data?
   Where your data is stored, how long it’s kept, and what security measures protect it are vital issues you need to ask about. Your confidential and sensitive pricing data must be kept private and secure. Ask the company to outline its data security systems.
6. What reports can they produce from the stocktake?
   Make sure the company understands what output you need and that they can deliver it. As well as standard reports, they should be able to create customised reports to suit your specific requirements.
7. Can I get a sample report?
   If this is the first time you’re considering hiring stocktaking support, you’ll want to know what you’re getting. Ask to see sample reports or even a demonstration of how the stocktaking team works.
8. How experienced is the company?
   A company with lots of experience will bring insights to the process that others won’t have. Check out who is behind the company and ask about the team they’ll use for your stocktake.
9. How can they guarantee the count is accurate?
10. Accuracy is essential. Can the company provide accuracy measurements? What happens if you find a significant number of errors? Pre-count preparation is important here, so make sure the company is willing to spend time to understand your business.
11. How much does it cost?
    The all-important question. Paying for professional stocktaking support needs to be cost-effective for your business. Get a few quotes from different companies but don’t assume the lowest cost will be the best option; it may be the worst. For example, using a company that imposes hourly scan rates on their employees may mean you are trading accuracy for a low cost. On the other hand, a company that can offer state-of-the-art software will deliver an efficient and effective stocktake, saving you time
    and money in the long run.

Scanmatix is one of Ireland’s leading multidisciplinary inventory management companies. If you would like to discuss your stocktake requirements, please get in touch and feel free to ask us the 10 questions outlined above at 01-554 7359,
[email protected]

George Armstrong, CEO at Scanmatix

This Business Support article featured in the May/June 2022 issue of The Hardware Journal.