Inventory and Stock Management AutomationsPurpose
1.2. To integrate POS, ERP, surveillance, employee workforce, and reporting systems for synchronized, error-mitigated stock assessments and discrepancy alerts.
1.3. To notify relevant staff, log results, escalate discrepancies, and update central records with minimal human intervention, meeting strict regulatory and audit requirements.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. Inventory thresholds reached, unexpected variances flagged, or at end of day closes.
2.3. Manual triggers by management for ad-hoc or random audits.
2.4. System-logged anomaly (excessive loss, repeated scanning failures).
Platform Variants
• Feature: Scheduled Inventory Count; Config: Auto-schedule inventory snapshot every Sunday, 01:00AM.
3.2. SAP Inventory Management
• Feature: Cycle Counting API; Config: POST /api/inventory/startCycle with store & item params on cron.
3.3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain
• Feature: Inventory Journals; Config: Automated journal creation via Power Automate flow at set intervals.
3.4. Square POS
• Feature: Inventory Reporting Webhook; Config: Webhook trigger on scheduled script, sends stock level data to audit system.
3.5. Clover POS
• Feature: Inventory API; Config: Scheduled GET /v3/merchants/{mId}/items endpoint at audit intervals.
3.6. Lightspeed Retail
• Feature: Inventory Count API; Config: POST /inventory_counts with audit template JSON via scheduler.
3.7. Shopify
• Feature: Inventory Levels API; Config: GET /admin/api/inventory_levels.json at fixed intervals via workflow app.
3.8. Vend (Lightspeed)
• Feature: Inventory Counts Endpoint; Config: Scheduler triggers GET /api/2.0/stock_orders.
3.9. Zoho Inventory
• Feature: Automated Stock Audits; Config: Workflow-based audit repeaters on core stock items.
3.10. QuickBooks Commerce
• Feature: Stocktake API; Config: POST /stock_adjustment to initiate periodic count, automated through scheduler.
3.11. Toast POS
• Feature: Inventory Variance Reports; Config: Email scheduled export to audit address.
3.12. JD Edwards Inventory
• Feature: Inventory Reconciliation Program; Config: Job Scheduler sets monthly reconciliation batch run.
3.13. Epicor ERP
• Feature: Cycle Count Scheduler; Config: Set auto-cycle calendar, relay events via REST API, log to central record.
3.14. Fishbowl Inventory
• Feature: Scheduled Inventory Count; Config: Windows Task triggers Fishbowl API stock reports.
3.15. Oracle Fusion
• Feature: Inventory Audit Job; Config: BPM triggers “Submit Inventory Audit” process nightly.
3.16. Sage 200
• Feature: Automatic Stocktake Alerts; Config: Monthly workflow triggers alert to selected users.
3.17. Infor CloudSuite Retail
• Feature: Inventory Cycle Tasks; Config: Recurring task setup for automatic cycle prompts.
3.18. Salesforce
• Feature: Scheduled Reports; Config: Automate report generation via Flow Scheduler with filter ‘inventory_audit’.
3.19. IBM Sterling Inventory
• Feature: Inventory Audit Pipeline; Config: Scheduled RESTful call to /inventory/audit with location param.
3.20. Blue Yonder (JDA)
• Feature: Audit Workflow Engine; Config: Scheduled workflow triggers auto-inventory recount workflow.
3.21. Google Sheets
• Feature: Time-driven Triggers; Config: Apps Script runs stock audit macros every 1st of month.
3.22. Airtable
• Feature: Automation Scripts; Config: On-schedule automation blocks perform count and log.
3.23. ServiceNow
• Feature: Scheduled Jobs; Config: Create job for ‘inventory_audit’ workflow action.
Benefits
4.2. Rapid compliance with government-required reporting and traceability.
4.3. Automated discrepancy notifications and escalation reduce undetected loss.
4.4. Improved staff efficiency and reduced audit fatigue.
4.5. Real-time, centralized audit logs facilitate transparency and regulatory reviews.