For many professionals in Powersports, Marine and RV dealerships the annual Parts Physical Inventory Count can cause a bit of stress. Whether you complete your physical inventory count at the end of the year or quarterly – regardless of the time of year, however, counting parts is never something anyone looks forward to.
In the years I spent working in a Powersports dealership, I clearly recall being assigned the responsibility of managing the parts inventory count every year around the Christmas season. It just wouldn’t be the holidays without it.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the first step my colleagues and I followed involved generating a Lightspeed Custom Report titled “Parts Inventory Count.” This report was then attached to a clipboard, and with our number-2-pencils in hand, we’d venture into the parts room to tally the inventory.
The count often began after hours on a late December Saturday night. By Sunday and Monday, the team and I would enlist the help of family members, neighbors, and anyone willing to give up their weekend to assist in completing the task.
After we were done counting, we’d vow not to wait until the holiday season the following year. Yet, just like clockwork, the ‘Herald Angels” would sing, and we’d be counting parts, with our trusty clip boards, into the New Year.
Fortunately, times have changed. And with the advent of modern technology, the days of number-2-pencils, old fashioned clipboards, and chaotic holiday counts are behind us. Enter the Lightspeed Mobile App and its Bar Code Scan Inventory Count tool.
The Lightspeed DMS Mobile App allows users to employ their mobile devices as barcode scanners for inventory counts. There is no need for costly hardware, as the app is completely free and does not require a user license. Furthermore, using the app does not restrict access to the desktop system, so multiple users can participate simultaneously.
Ultimately, the barcode scan inventory count will save considerable time, provide a much more accurate count than the old pencil method, and help alleviate some of the stress associated with the holiday season inventory process.
Bryan Tierney
When I think back on my childhood, some of my fondest memories are the Saturdays I spent with my dad at the local motorcycle shop. There was something special about walking through those doors and being surrounded by all the shiny new bikes on the showroom floor. The atmosphere of the shop was intoxicating, and I knew from a young age that I was hooked. As I got older, my love for the Powersports Industry continued to evolve. I landed a job behind the parts counter of that very same dealership and started my career using Lightspeed. It's hard to believe that was over thirty years ago! Over the years, my role with Lightspeed has changed many times, but the feeling I get when I’m in a dealership or at an industry event, always takes me back to those Saturdays with my dad. There's something truly special about this industry and the people within it, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of it.
