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Buffer stock, also known as safety stock, is essential for protecting your supply chain from unexpected events like demand surges, shipping delays, or supplier issues. It acts as a cushion to keep operations running smoothly when forecasts fall short or disruptions occur. Maintaining buffer stock helps prevent stockouts, preserve customer loyalty, and ensure service-level commitments are met. In this guide, we’ll walk through how buffer stock works, how to calculate...

Backorders can be both a challenge and an opportunity for growing businesses. A backorder happens when an item is temporarily out of stock but still available for purchase, with fulfillment expected once inventory is replenished. If managed properly, backorders allow you to continue generating revenue during high-demand periods or supply delays. However, poor backorder handling can lead to customer frustration, negative reviews, or canceled orders. This article explains what causes...

As businesses scale and sell across more channels, inventory tracking becomes increasingly complex. The right software helps streamline operations, prevent stockouts, and keep customers happy with accurate, real-time data. Today’s top platforms offer features like barcode scanning, demand forecasting, and integrations with ecommerce and accounting systems. In this article, we review the best inventory tracking software options for 2025 to help you find a solution that matches your needs, budget,...

Artificial intelligence is changing the game for supply chain management by automating manual tasks, increasing visibility, and powering smarter, faster decision-making. AI-driven tools are helping companies forecast demand more accurately, optimize inventory levels, reduce waste, and respond quickly to disruptions. From intelligent routing and predictive analytics to warehouse robotics and automated order fulfillment, AI is enabling more agile and resilient supply chains. This...

Demand forecasting is essential for ensuring you always have the right amount of inventory on hand—enough to meet customer needs without overstocking or tying up too much capital. By leveraging historical sales data, seasonality, market trends, and predictive analytics, businesses can forecast demand more accurately and plan accordingly. Whether you're launching new products, planning promotions, or adjusting to shifting customer behavior, mastering forecasting helps improve profitability, streamline logistics, and prevent...

The inventory turnover ratio is a handy metric that tells you how often a company sells and replaces its inventory over a certain period, and it’s one of the best indicators of inventory health. It's like a snapshot of how well a business is managing its stock. A low ratio could point to excess stock and weak demand, while a high ratio suggests strong sales and efficient stock movement. Learning...

FIFO, or First In, First Out, is one of the most widely adopted inventory accounting and management methods in retail, logistics, and manufacturing. It ensures that older inventory is sold before newer stock enters circulation, which helps reduce product spoilage, optimize turnover, and improve accuracy in financial reporting. Understanding how FIFO impacts cost control, tax liability, and operational flow is critical to creating a lean, responsive inventory management system...

SKU numbers. Those nifty little codes that make managing products a breeze. At a time when staying organized is non-negotiable, SKU numbers play a critical role in making that possible. A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to each distinct product and variation in your catalog, helping you track inventory, simplify fulfillment, and avoid costly errors. Whether you're managing hundreds of items or scaling into new...

Inventory management involves overseeing stock to meet customer demand while minimizing costs. Effective inventory management keeps businesses running smoothly.

In this article, you’ll discover key strategies for mastering inventory management in 2025. We'll explore inventory management concepts, inventory role, inventory management objectives, inventory types, systems and controls of inventory management,  technology considerations, best practices and industry tips in inventory management, planning and forecasting demand, future trends and possible predictions,...

Returns fraud and abuse have escalated into a significant threat, posing substantial challenges for retailers attempting to maintain customer-friendly free return policies. This form of fraud ranges from minor deceptions to complex schemes, making it essential for businesses to identify and mitigate abusive practices without alienating legitimate customers. Understanding the types of returns fraud, who commits it, and implementing prevention strategies can help retailers minimize their losses while maintaining...