Cycle Count
Counting a small subset of inventory on a regular rotating schedule instead of one big annual stocktake.
A cycle count is a method of checking physical stock against recorded stock by counting a small portion of your inventory frequently, on a rotating schedule, rather than counting everything at once in a single annual inventory.
Cycle counting keeps records accurate all year, catches discrepancies early, and avoids the disruption of shutting operations down for a full stocktake. High-value or fast-moving items are usually counted more often than slow movers.
Accurate stock records are the foundation everything else depends on: reorder points, availability promises, and financial reporting are only as reliable as the count behind them.
Related terms
- Dead StockInventory that is not selling and is unlikely to sell, tying up cash and space.
- COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)The direct cost of the products a business actually sold during a period.
- SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)A unique internal code that identifies one specific product variant so you can track and reorder it.
Run it in one system
VNDLY tracks stock, orders, and suppliers together so terms like this stop being theory and start being automatic.