Guide Categories
Inventory Locations
Track inventory across multiple warehouses, stores, or locations for better inventory control.
Overview
Inventory Locations enable you to track the same inventory items across different physical locations, providing detailed visibility into stock levels and movements.
This feature is essential for businesses with multiple warehouses, retail stores, or storage facilities that need to manage inventory distribution efficiently.
Location Types
Accounter supports various types of inventory locations to match your business structure:
- Main warehouse - Primary storage facility for bulk inventory
- Retail stores - Physical storefronts with customer-facing inventory
- Storage facilities - Additional warehouses or storage units
- Consignment locations - Third-party locations where your products are sold
- Manufacturing facilities - Production locations with raw materials and finished goods
- Distribution centers - Transit hubs for inventory movement
Setting Up Locations
To create and configure inventory locations:
- Navigate to Settings → Inventory Locations
- Click New Location to create a new inventory location
- Enter location details (name, address, contact information)
- Set unique location codes for easy identification
- Configure location-specific settings and permissions
- Assign existing inventory items to the new location
- Set initial stock levels for each item at the location
- Configure location managers and access controls
Pro Tip
Use short, descriptive codes for locations (e.g., WH01, STORE-NYC, MFG-LA) to make transfers and reporting easier and more intuitive.
Location Management Features
Once locations are set up, you can manage inventory across all locations:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Stock Level Tracking | Monitor inventory quantities at each location in real-time |
| Inventory Transfers | Move inventory between locations with proper documentation |
| Location Reports | Generate reports specific to individual locations |
| Stock Movement History | Track all inventory movements and transactions by location |
| Reorder Management | Set different reorder points for each location |
| Location Analytics | Analyze performance and efficiency by location |
Best Practices
- Use clear location naming conventions - Implement consistent naming that includes location type and identifier
- Regular stock counts by location - Conduct periodic physical counts to maintain accuracy
- Optimize inventory distribution - Balance stock levels based on demand patterns at each location
- Monitor slow-moving inventory - Identify and relocate inventory that's not moving at certain locations
- Maintain accurate transfer records - Document all movements with proper authorization
- Set location-specific reorder points - Adjust minimum stock levels based on local demand
- Train location staff - Ensure all staff understand inventory procedures
- Implement security measures - Control access to inventory and track who makes changes
Note
Regularly analyze inventory levels across locations to optimize stock distribution, reduce carrying costs, and prevent stockouts at high-demand locations.