Sales
Every item sold must leave under its own code.
Why it matters
At the till, every scanned item leaves the book stock. If an item goes through under another’s code (same price, other colour, other size), the software removes the wrong one. At the stocktake, one seems missing, the other seems in excess. It isn’t a loss, it’s a recording error. But as long as sales teams don’t know why it matters, it keeps coming back.
What often happens
Same price, wrong code. Two items at the same price: the closest one gets scanned.
Three sizes, one scan. The customer takes three sizes, one is scanned and “3” is typed.
The generic code. A “miscellaneous” key that rings up the sale without removing the right item.
The customer return put back wrongly. Put back in stock under another item.
What to do
Scan every item. Never a generic code, never an item “at the same price”.
One scan per item. Sizes and colours scanned separately.
Restock under the right code. For every customer return.
Raise awareness with sales teams. Explain why in a meeting, before each stocktake: a salesperson who sees the effect on stock changes their habit.