A

  • Audit – A systematic examination of inventory records and stock levels to ensure accuracy and compliance with maintaining stock file accuracy.
  • ASN – Advanced Shipping Note; in supply chain management, an ASN is an electronic document that provides detailed information about a pending delivery.

B

  • Barcode – A machine-readable pattern of lines or squares that stores data used to identify products, assets, or information quickly and accurately.
  • Barcode Scanning – The use of barcode technology to track and manage inventory efficiently.
    Batch Tracking – A method of tracking goods in groups or batches to monitor product expiration, recalls, or production details.
  • Buffer Stock – Extra inventory kept on hand to prevent stockouts due to unexpected demand or supply chain delays.

C

  • Cycle Counting – A stock auditing process where a portion of inventory is counted regularly instead of a full stocktake, sometimes known as Perpetual Inventory.
  • Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) – The total cost of producing or purchasing the products a business sells during a given period.

D

  • Dead Stock – Inventory that remains unsold for a long period and is unlikely to be sold in the future.
  • Demand Forecasting – Predicting future customer demand based on historical sales data, trends, and market analysis.

E

  • EAN – EAN (European Article Number) is a globally used barcode standard that uniquely identifies retail products to streamline scanning and inventory management.
  • E-commerce Inventory Management – The process of tracking and managing stock for online retail businesses.
  • Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) – A formula used to determine the optimal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs.
  • EPC – Electronic Product Code; the unique identifier in RFID labels and tags used to track and manage individual items of stock.

F

  • First-In, First-Out (FIFO) – An inventory management method where the oldest stock is sold first to prevent obsolescence or spoilage.
  • Fixed Asset Register – A record of long-term assets owned by a business, such as equipment or property, used for accounting and auditing.
  • Fully Managed Count (Turnkey Count) – A stocktake fully undertaken by a vendor and their team, utilising their own resources and equipment.

G

  • Gap Scan – A retail process that identifies missing or out-of-stock products on shelves by scanning shelf labels or barcodes to ensure inventory accuracy and product availability.
  • Goods Received Note (GRN) – A document confirming the receipt of stock from a supplier.
  • Gross Inventory – The total value of stock before adjustments for damages, losses, or obsolescence.
  • Goods Not For Resale (GNFR) – Consumables and other items, like hangers or security tags, ordered for use in stores but not for resale.
  • GS1 – GS1 is a global organisation that develops and maintains standards—such as barcodes and product identifiers—to ensure consistent and accurate data sharing across supply chains worldwide.
  • GTIN – GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is a unique identifier used worldwide to distinguish products and services in the supply chain, typically encoded in barcodes like EAN or UPC.

H

  • Holding Costs – The expenses associated with storing and maintaining inventory, including warehousing, insurance, and depreciation.

I

  • Inventory – Refers either to the actual stock holding or to a stocktake.
  • Inventory Management System (IMS) – A software tool used to track stock levels, sales, and orders in real time.
  • Inventory Turnover Ratio – A measure of how frequently stock is sold and replaced within a specific time period.

J

  • Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory – A strategy where stock is ordered only when needed, reducing storage costs but requiring precise demand planning.

L

  • Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) – A stock valuation method where the most recently acquired inventory is sold first.
  • Lead Time – The time between placing an order with a supplier and receiving the stock.

M

  • Minimum Stock Level – The lowest quantity of stock that a business aims to maintain before reordering.
  • Markdown – A price reduction applied to products, often to clear slow-moving inventory.

O

  • Obsolete Stock – Inventory that is outdated and no longer sellable due to changes in market demand or product upgrades.
  • Order Management – The process of tracking and fulfilling customer orders, from purchase to delivery.

P

  • Par Level – A predetermined minimum stock quantity that ensures adequate supply without overstocking.
  • Perpetual Inventory System – A method where stock levels are continuously updated in real time using technology like barcode scanning or RFID.

Q

  • QR Code – A QR code is a type of two-dimensional barcode that can store large amounts of data and is quickly readable by smartphones and scanners for easy access to information, websites, or digital content.

R

  • Reorder Point – The stock level at which a new order should be placed to avoid running out of inventory.
  • Retail Shrinkage – Loss of stock due to theft, fraud, damage, or administrative errors.
  • RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Stocktaking – A process by which items are counted using radio waves.

S

  • Safety Stock – Additional inventory kept as a precaution against unexpected demand or supply chain disruptions.
  • Self-Inventory (Partner Count) – A collaborative approach between vendor and customer whereby the vendor facilitates a stocktake by supervising the customer’s team using the vendor’s equipment and software.
  • Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) – A unique code assigned to each product variant for easy tracking and identification.
  • Stocktake – The process of physically counting and verifying inventory levels to ensure accuracy in records.

T

  • Third-Party Logistics (3PL) – Outsourcing inventory storage, fulfilment, and distribution to an external provider.

W

  • Warehouse Management System (WMS) – Software designed to optimise warehouse operations, including stock control, picking, and shipping.

Wholesale Inventory – Large quantities of goods purchased by businesses for resale rather than individual consumer purchases.