inform Blog

During Cold and Flu Waves: Reduce Absences Due to Illness with Inventory Simplification Procedures

Dec 7, 2023 // Caroline Kronenwerth

Cold-Flu-Wave-Inventory-Simplification

The end of the year often means that stress levels are high again in many companies. Increasing waves of illness pose additional challenges for enterprises. They have to complete their inventory efficiently despite staff shortages, contain the risk of infection internally as much as possible, and develop their business strategy for the coming year – all these circumstances together create a state of emergency that plays out year after year.

This blog post explains how inventory sampling is not only an efficient solution for a company’s annual stocktaking activities, but is also an effective safeguard against the challenges posed by absences due to illness.
 

Leverage the benefits of inventory sampling for effective, stress-free stocktaking

One risk that should not be underestimated is the amount of time it takes to complete a full inventory. It often not only causes enormous stress for staff, but also poses an additional risk of infection because personnel work together in close proximity. The good news is that there is a way to prevent inventory stress and staff shortages – it's called inventory sampling.

Inventory sampling is a simplified inventory procedure that is permitted under commercial and tax law. And it's the only method that drastically reduces the number of inventory items to be counted. As a result, inventory sampling is a process that requires significantly less staff, causes much less stress, and it doesn't disrupt company processes.

 

Free up more time and safeguard against infections

Instead of manually counting or weighing every single product, intelligent inventory sampling automatically records just a representative selection. This reduces stocktaking efforts by up to 95 percent compared to a full inventory. As a result, the number of employees working in the warehouses is reduced and so is the risk of infection. Furthermore, this form of stocktaking takes up to 90 percent less time – the process is easy and stress-free, requiring significantly less staff when absences due to illness are up.

 

A healthy workforce and satisfied customers

The inventory sampling process also prevents potential warehouse closures and production stops. Since this process doesn’t rely on full manual counting, staff shortages have less of an impact, resulting in smoother warehouse and production processes without interruptions. Companies can thus maintain the best possible customer service, as they are able to meet delivery deadlines and keep warehouses running without major interruptions even during inventory time – an aspect that also has a positive impact on customer satisfaction.

 

Easier inventory to free up time for strategic tasks

Moreover, unlike inventory sampling, full inventory requires valuable personnel from various departments. At the same time, personnel with specific roles are also heavily involved in end-of-year planning for the following year. This planning includes an in-depth analysis of the current business situation and the definition of strategic goals for the coming year – a considerable additional challenge alongside inventory and in times of staff shortages due to illness. By simplifying the inventory process, inventory sampling frees up valuable time for important strategic tasks, allowing employees to start the new year well prepared.

 

Conclusion: Inventory sampling is the smart answer to staffing challenges when cold and flu epidemics strike

In light of the upcoming waves of colds and flu and the associated staff absences, inventory sampling is proving to be an intelligent solution to counter staff shortages at the end of the year. Supported by innovative software solutions, this inventory simplification process offers a stress-free, infection-proof and efficient way to successfully manage stocktaking even during periods of absence due to illness. Companies that opt for this current yet proven inventory method can not only ensure the accuracy of their inventory process, but can also minimize their employee workload and strategically position themselves for the coming financial year.

 

What do you do to ensure that stocktaking at your company is safe and stress free?

About our Expert

Caroline Kronenwerth

Caroline Kronenwerth has been working as PR Manager at INFORM since 2021 and focuses on trends and topics related to optimizing processes in supply chain management and simplifying inventory.

DIESE BEITRÄGE KÖNNTEN SIE AUCH INTERESSIEREN

Apr 18, 2023

ADD*ONE optimization by INFORM GmbH is Certified by SAP for Integration with SAP S/4HANA

The ADD*ONE BO 2023 version of the ADD*ONE optimization software is certified by SAP® ...

Demand planning with AI-based software

Demand Planning

AI forecasting for more reliable and successful demand planning

Inventory Management

Intelligent solution for more transparency, optimized inventories and satisfied customers

Spare Parts Management

Intelligent solution for maximum delivery capability at optimized costs

Digitalization in Wholesale: How AI-based Software is Transforming Supply Chain Management

Nov 13, 2024 // Michael Niehoff

Digitalization in Wholesale: How AI-based Software is Transforming Supply Chain Management

Digitalisation and the use of decision-intelligent software are indispensable today for mastering the many challenges in wholesale. In our blog, you will learn how to successfully transform your wholesale processes.

AI in initial stockpiling: Deliverable & efficient despite a lack of experience

Oct 22, 2024 // Dr. rer. nat. Christian Mießen

AI in initial stockpiling: Deliverable & efficient despite a lack of experience

When introducing new products, you lack both experience and a sound data basis in terms of expected sales. In our blog, you can find out how you can still achieve efficient initial stockpiling that enables you to deliver.

Materials planning process in supply chain management

Sep 12, 2024 // Andreas Schäfer

Materials planning process in supply chain management: What procedures are there and why are they important?

What are the key challenges in materials planning? How does AI-based software help to overcome them and optimize processes? We answer these and other questions in this blog post.

Successful S&OP: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks with Intelligent Business Software

Jul 30, 2024 // Gabi Auerbach

Successful S&OP: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks with Intelligent Business Software

In an increasingly dynamic business world, efficient Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is becoming more and more important. But what exactly is S&OP? And how can companies establish a successful S&OP process? We answer these and other questions in this blog post.

football and supply chain management

Jul 3, 2024 // Caroline Kronenwerth

From the Dressing Room to the Office: What Supply Chain Managers Can Learn from Football Teams

What do a football tournament, such as the European Championship, and supply chain management have in common? Their success factors are timeless: it's all about strategy, teamwork, flexibility, optimisation and risk management.

Sustainability in supply chain management

Jun 13, 2024 // Nils Clemens

Intelligent Business Software as the Key to Greater Sustainability in Supply Chain Management

In an era in which sustainability is no longer an optional extra but increasingly a business-critical necessity, companies are faced with the challenge of combining ecological responsibility with economic efficiency.

Shortage of Skilled Workers in Supply Chain Management

Nov 16, 2023 // Caroline Kronenwerth

Shortage of Skilled Workers in Supply Chain Management: How Intelligent Software Solutions Can Combat this Effectively

The ongoing shortage of skilled workers is posing major challenges to companies worldwide, affecting a variety of industries.

Multisourcing in Procurement

Jun 6, 2023 // Caroline Kronenwerth

Multisourcing: Rethinking Procurement, Avoiding Supply Bottlenecks

In the past, cooperation with one single supplier had become a very comfy habit for many companies.

Sales Planning in Supply Chain Management

Feb 12, 2024 // Andreas Schäfer

Sales Planning in Supply Chain Management

What is sales planning? Why is it so important for overall corporate planning? And what are the benefits of intelligent sales planning? Find out in this blog post.

Holistic S&OP as a success factor

INFOPAPER | Why should companies use intelligent business software for their S&OP process? Here are 5 good reasons.

Resilience through Logistics IT

TREND REPORT | In our trend study, we look at the transformative role of logistics IT in providing us with the tools to boldly tackle disrupted supply chains and increase their resilience. Download the full report now.

5 Tips on How to Sustainably Increase The Resilience of Your Company

INFOPAPER | How do you become more secure in your supply chain management in times of crisis? In this Infopaper, we give you 5 valuable tips.

Maschinen- und Anlagenbau

Mechanical and Plant Engineering

Intelligent software workflows guarantee a successful handling of orders in production, logistics, supply chain, and controlling.

Medizintechnik

Medical Engineering

The high precision and care in medical engineering require reliable processes in production and supply chain.

ARaymond now has an eye on the entire S&OP process

The automotive supplier ARaymond optimizes the entire S&OP process with the help of the intelligent ADD*ONE solution suite and thus increases planning quality across all divisions.