Simple stock control software??

[Merchant UK]

Hi all, Sorry for not being about for yonks, been sooooo busy just so much work nowadays for welders around London (Crazy!!)

Anyway as with being busy i'm looking at doing my stock control on the pc, Ideally i'm just after a small cheap or free software that will just keep track of stock and give me a report at least once a week.

Not interested in invoicing, purchase orders or customers, just something so i can track my stock, ie, welding consumables, drilling, PPE, etc..

Can any of you guys recommend anything thats out there, to be honest i don't mind paying as long as its simple!

 

[kevinof]

Afternoon. Don't want to advertise but this may be useful to you. We have a web app builder/forms app that lets you create forms like this. We have lots of customers using it for stock control and all you have to do is edit the app, change the field names to your needs and run. We can also provide you with templates or make the app for you at no charge.

It's free for up to 3 users so it might be a solution for you. Take a look at apptimi dot com

 

[Deleted member 59730]

I've used Excel for years. It can do loads of calculations and you can set it up to your own needs. Most useful is being able to see what items to add to an order to get best discount terms.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I've not used any of these........
5-free-inventory-software-solutions-for-product-management
http://www.businessbee.com/resource...ry-software-solutions-for-product-management/

 

[lww]

I'd be another recommending Excel - it's free and easy to setup a very simple stock control and monitoring spreadsheet. No point in complicating matters or introducing a dependency on non-mainstream third party software in my opinion.

 

[Merchant UK]

I'd be happy using the excel method can anyone point me in the right direction for a template??

 

[lww]

You don't need a template, you can make it as simple as you want - in its most simplest form why not just type products in one column, dates across the top row, and enter your stock numbers. Maybe you could do this every 1st of the month for example and thus keep a track of your monthly usage. Or you might find it easier to track sales rather than remaining stock.

At a later date you can start adding in graphs to show stock levels, etc. Or maybe you will have one tab/sheet per sales channel and a summary page... whatever suits you best.

 

[Margaret Dems]

There's a good stock control program at simplestockcontrol.yolasite (dot)com thats soo easy to use.

 

[Alan]

Why pay for excel when you can get Google Sheets or Libre Office for free, both perfectly functionl spredsheets

 

[Pish_Pash]

Basic stock control is essentially...

'stock purchases' minus 'sales'

.. plus you need the user option to 'adjust' stock levels (stock lost, damaged, stolen, returned etc) & the option to do a 'stock take'.

IMHO Excel is not the way to approach stock control (not saying it can't be done, but it's the wrong tool for the task in hand)......IMHO you really need a database (Excel is not, repeat NOT a database!) ...something like MS Access.

There are many free MS Access inventory control databases out there.

 

[ffox]

IMHO Excel is not the way to approach stock control (not saying it can't be done, but it's the wrong tool for the task in hand)......IMHO you really need a database (Excel is not, repeat NOT a database!) ...something like MS Access.

I have to agree with @Pish_Pash A spreadsheet is not the idea tool. If paying a small subscription is good for you take a look at MS Office 365. No technical knowledge is needed to set up a SharePoint List (or lists) that will give you the functionality you need. The set up is easy and I would be happy to provide free guidance on the structure you need.
My gain comes with more complex stuff, and who knows you may come back in the future for that if I help you at this level.
Hope this helps

Chris

 

[Pish_Pash]

This may be a bit heavy for anyone new to Access (and/or VBA), but this is how I essentially deployed my own stock control system...

http://allenbrowne.com/appinventory.html

...it's very ingenious (even if you don't understand the code nor intend using it, it's probably worth reading the introduction for the 'concept' of deploying basic stock control)

I fully understand why everyone always suggests Excel ...it's what everyone is familiar with (and who doesn't know how to use a spreadsheet?) ...but the sooner you start using a database, the sooner you can save yourself a whole heap of time & make laborious repetitive tasks a piece of proverbial.

 

[ffox]

...it's very ingenious (even if you don't understand the code nor intend using it, it's probably worth reading the introduction for the 'concept' of deploying basic stock control)

Sorry, but that is way too complicated. First rule of process development is - Keep it simple.

You need two core tables -
Stock Item. Contains data that describes the stock and location.
Stock Transactions. Contains data on stock movement.

You can add support tables to feed the Stock Transaction table with customer/supplier names and other meta data about the stock to save on data duplication.

Stock holding needs to be calculated 'on the fly' from a known point. This can be a daily, weekly, monthly or other period validated holding.

Validated holding is best done by rolling stock check. If the control software is cloud stored, this can be done with a tablet or smart phone with 'eyes on' the bin or carton.
Discrepancies are entered into Stock Transactions as an adjustment, preferably with an audit trail note.

This can be done using SS or DB.

 

[GraemeL]

the OP asked the question 3 years ago

 

[ffox]

the OP asked the question 3 years ago

Oops.

 

[Pish_Pash]

even though the OP has long since likely found a resolution, continuing on

Sorry, but that is way too complicated. First rule of process development is - Keep it simple.

Back to Allen Brown's ethos...

""How do I update the Quantity On Hand each time an item is sold/used?" The simple answer is: You don't! You calculate the value when you need it."

so, whilst the code might not have been easy on the eye.....the concept is actually *very* simple (KISS!) & is pretty much inline with what you describe.

Product Table (describes the stock, location etc)

Stock take table (a known reference point from when you've physically counted the stock)

Stock acquistions table (for when you've purchased stock)

Stock adjustments table (to make any minor manual adjustments on the fly)

So, to get stock 'on hand' quantity run a simple calculation...

Last Stock take ('Quantity counted' & date of count) + Stock acquistions since ± Stock adjustments since - stock sold since.

 

[ffox]

Last Stock take ('Quantity counted' & date of count) + Stock acquistions since ± Stock adjustments since - stock sold since.

That bit is good, but a single transaction table recording stock in and stock out is all that is necessary at the core. Any other tables for stock description, supplier, customer, invoice detail etc., are all peripheral and for reference.
The calc is done in the query.

For instance - you don't need a stock take table. Adjustments are merely recorded as stock transaction of stocktake adjustment type.