Inventory problems hit where it hurts – cash flow.
Too little? Missed sales.
And if your sales channels aren’t talking to each other and in sync, you’re in chaos.Overstock and stockouts might seem like opposite problems, but they both hit your bottom line.
In the UK, 99% of retailers say they’ve lost revenue from unsold stock, with an average quarterly loss of £882,781 due to overstocking (365Retail, Jan 2024). Meanwhile, 82% of shoppers have experienced out-of-stock items in-store and 60% online, leading to missed sales and broken trust (Retail Insight, July 2023).
Here’s how to take back control – especially if you’re selling across multiple channels and marketplaces.
1. Use Data-Driven Forecasting to Predict Demand
Guesswork doesn’t cut it anymore. You need decisions driven by data.
- Analyse real-time sales trends to see what’s selling, where and when
- Spot seasonal patterns and slow periods to avoid panic buying
- Use predictive analytics to forecast demand with confidence
56% of UK retailers say they lack visibility into which products are heading toward dead stock (365Retail, Jan 2024).
2. Adopt Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory Practices
Excess stock eats space and cash. Keep things lean.
- Order only when needed – not “just in case”
- Reduce storage costs and keep cash flowing
- Minimise dead stock and respond quicker to demand
In 2023, UK manufacturers were holding an average of £102,000 in overstocked inventory (International Accounting Bulletin, Nov 2023).
3. Synchronise Inventory Updates Across All Sales Channels
Disjointed platforms lead to chaos – overselling, underselling and unhappy customers.
- Sync stock in real-time across sales channels and marketplaces
- Automatically update inventory levels as orders come in
- Avoid manual errors and maintain Multi-Channel inventory control
With UK eCommerce forecast to grow 18.1% annually from 2025 to 2033, integrated inventory control is becoming non negotiable (IMARC Group, May 2024).
4. Set Up Automated Low Stock Alerts
Forecasting tells you what’s coming – alerts make sure you act on it.
- Use demand data to trigger low stock warnings before products run out
- Automate reordering to stay ahead of demand
- No more scrambling to restock or losing customers to stockouts
PwC reports that a 15% improvement in forecast accuracy can reduce stockouts by 10% and improve on time delivery by 5% (PwC Digital Supply Chain, 2023).
5. Implement Multi-Warehouse Management Strategies
Shipping everything from one warehouse? That’s slowing you down and costing more.
- Distribute stock across locations based on regional demand
- Route orders from the nearest site for faster fulfilment
- Reduce delivery costs and keep customers happy
McKinsey found that placing warehouses closer to delivery points can reduce distribution costs by up to 25% (McKinsey & Company, Sept 2022).
No More Guesswork. No More Gaps.
You don’t need more stock. You need the right stock, in the right place, at the right time – and complete visibility across all your channels.
Stok.ly Cloud ERP brings it all together – smarter forecasting, real-time syncing, automated low-stock alerts and multi-warehouse management – all in one clean system.
From overstocked to out of stock – it’s time to take control.
Let’s get inventory right.
Click here for more information about Inventory Management
Call us on 01432 804333
Author: Iain Coplans CEO Stok.ly