Inventory is essential for any business that sells products, whether it's electronics, home appliances, furniture, or sporting goods. Effective inventory management helps you continuously monitor all the items your business owns, ensuring that you have access to crucial data such as exact inventory levels, profitability reports, purchase order management, and other vital information.
This comprehensive guide compiles the most frequently asked questions about product management, inventory management, and inventory reporting. Read on to better understand how to manage your inventory efficiently, track stock items accurately, and leverage powerful tools to optimize your business operations.
Table of Contents
Product Management
- How do I create products for proper inventory tracking?
- What is the difference between sellable and non-sellable products in inventory management?
- How can I create product modifiers for inventory tracking (sizes, colors, options)?
- How do I create and manage product components for accurate inventory management?
- Can I assign a product to multiple categories for inventory management?
- Can I assign a product to a vendor?
Inventory Management
- How do I adjust inventory quantities on POS and portal?
- What is a Purchase Order (PO), and how do I create one?
- Where can I manage all purchase orders?
- How do I receive products from a purchase order?
- What is a count sheet, and how do I use it to perform inventory counts?
- How do I create and manage custom fields for purchase orders in SalesVu?
- How can I set inventory alerts for low stock levels?
- How do I handle out-of-stock items?
- How can I assign products to multiple storage areas for inventory tracking?
- Can I track individually identifiable items (serial numbers, maintenance dates) in inventory?
- How do I add discounts and other fees to purchase orders in SalesVu?
- How can I transfer inventory between locations?
- How can I print barcode labels for inventory tracking?
Inventory Reporting
- How do I view and export detailed reports on inventory movements?
- What information does the All-in-One Sales & Profitability Master Report include?
- Can I track budget utilization for different product categories in my reports?
- How do I track and report on Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)?
- How do I generate a report on current stock levels?
- How can I track my inventory value over time?
- How do I use inventory reports to analyze product performance?
- What is 'Days on Hand' and how can I use it to forecast stock levels?
- How do I export inventory data for external analysis?
Product Management
1. How do I create products for proper inventory tracking?
Creating products correctly in SalesVu is essential for accurate inventory management. You can add new products using two methods:
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Through SalesVu.com Portal:
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General Overview: Log in to your SalesVu.com account to create and manage products. This method allows you to configure detailed settings, including inventory tracking options, directly from the web portal.
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Inventory Settings: When creating or editing a product on the portal, pay special attention to the 'Inventory Setting' section to configure how the product will be tracked in inventory. The options are:
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Track this item in inventory in another unit:
- Use this option to track items by custom units such as 'bottles', 'cases', or 'packs'.
- You can create and assign these custom units to your products.
- Click here to learn how to create custom units.
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Track this item in inventory by weight:
- Select this option to track items based on weight measurements.
- Choose existing units of weight or create new ones to suit your needs.
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Do not track this item in inventory:
- Use this option if you don't need to track the product's inventory (e.g., services, digital products).
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Directly on the POS App:
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General Overview: Use the SalesVu POS app to add products on-the-go. This method is convenient for quick additions or updates while at your business location.
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Inventory Settings: While you can create products on the POS app, inventory tracking options may be limited compared to the web portal. For comprehensive inventory settings, it's recommended to use the SalesVu.com portal.
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By properly configuring the inventory settings when creating products, you ensure accurate stock tracking and efficient inventory management within SalesVu. This helps maintain real-time inventory levels, streamline reordering processes, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
For detailed step-by-step instructions on creating products and configuring inventory settings, click here.
2. What is the difference between sellable and non-sellable products in inventory management?
In SalesVu, distinguishing between sellable and non-sellable products is crucial for accurate inventory tracking:
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Sellable Products: These are items sold directly to customers and appear on your POS app, kiosks, and E-commerce platforms. For example, a bottle of ketchup sold individually in your store.
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Non-Sellable Products: These items are not sold separately but are used as components or modifiers of other sellable products. They help track the inventory of parts that make up a final product. For instance, 'Ketchup' used as an ingredient in a meal or as a condiment option. Non-sellable products do not appear on sales platforms for direct purchase but are essential for inventory management.
When creating or editing a product:
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Locate the 'Type' Section: In the product details, find the 'Type' field.
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Select the Product Type: Choose either 'Sellable' or 'Non-Sellable' based on how you plan to use the product in your inventory system.
Understanding this distinction ensures that your inventory records reflect actual stock usage and sales.
For detailed instructions on setting product types, click here.
3. How can I create product modifiers for inventory tracking (sizes, colors, options)?
Modifiers allow you to offer variations of a product, such as different sizes or colors, and are essential for detailed inventory tracking.
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Create Modifier Groups: Group similar modifiers together (e.g., Sizes, Colors).
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Add Modifier Items: Within each group, add specific options (e.g., Small, Medium, Large).
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Assign Modifiers to Products: Link the modifier groups to relevant products to offer these options at the point of sale.
Modifiers can be configured to adjust inventory levels when selected. For example, choosing a size may deduct a specific quantity or adjust the inventory of a particular variant.
For detailed instructions on creating and managing product modifiers for inventory tracking, click here.
For detailed information on the merge modifier feature for inventory management, click here
4. How do I create and manage product components for accurate inventory management?
Components in SalesVu represent the ingredients or parts that make up a product. Managing components is vital for tracking the inventory of items that are not sold individually but are used to create sellable products.
Examples:
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Food Items: A hamburger may have components like bread, beef patty, lettuce, etc. Selling a hamburger will automatically deduct these ingredients from inventory.
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Packaged Goods: A case of wine containing multiple bottles. Selling a case reduces the inventory count of individual bottles.
To create and manage components:
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In the Product Details, locate the 'Select Component' section.
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Add Components: Search for and select the non-sellable products or ingredients that make up the sellable product.
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Specify Quantities: Indicate the quantity of each component used per unit of the sellable product.
By accurately setting up components, you ensure that inventory levels of both sellable products and their constituent parts are correctly managed.
For detailed steps on creating and assigning components, click here.
5. Can I assign a product to multiple categories for inventory management?
In SalesVu, each product can only be assigned to one category. However, you can organize your inventory effectively by:
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Using Modifiers: Apply modifiers to products to represent variations or classifications within a category.
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Utilizing Tags or Custom Fields: Add tags or custom fields to products for additional filtering and reporting capabilities.
While direct assignment to multiple categories isn't possible, these alternative methods allow for flexible organization and inventory management.
6. Can I assign a product to a vendor?
In SalesVu, you can assign vendors to your products for streamlined inventory management. To do this, you’ll first need to create a vendor profile under the Inventory tab. For detailed steps on creating vendors, click here.
Once the vendor is created, you can assign products by selecting specific categories or individual items.
To assign products to vendors:
- In the Inventory tab, locate the Vendors tab and select the vendor's name.
- In the Vendor tab: Select 'Assign Products'.
- Choose categories (right side) or individual items (left side) to assign to the vendor.
For detailed steps on assigning products to vendors, click here
Inventory Management
1. How do I adjust inventory quantities on POS and portal?
You can adjust inventory quantities in SalesVu through several methods:
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Manual Adjustment via SalesVu.com Portal and POS App: You can manually adjust inventory quantities directly from the SalesVu.com portal or the POS app. This allows you to update stock levels for individual products as needed from either platform.
- For detailed instructions on how this feature works on the SalesVu.com portal, click here.
- For detailed instructions on how this feature works on the POS app, click here.
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Creating and Receiving Purchase Orders: Adjust inventory quantities by creating purchase orders (POs) and receiving them. When you receive a PO, the quantities of the products are automatically updated in your inventory.
- To learn more about creating and receiving purchase orders, click here.
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Using Count Sheets to Recount Inventory: You can create count sheets to perform physical inventory counts. This process adjusts existing quantities based on the actual stock levels you record during the count.
- For detailed steps on how this feature works, click here.
2. What is a Purchase Order (PO), and how do I create one?
A Purchase Order (PO) is a formal document issued by a buyer to a vendor, specifying the types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services. The purchase order management process is essential for businesses to acquire goods and services, encompassing the planning, coordination, and execution of purchase orders.
- For detailed instructions on how to create purchase orders, please refer to our guide on Creating Purchase Orders in SalesVu.
3. Where can I manage all purchase orders?
In SalesVu, the 'Purchase Orders' management tab helps you to create, edit, and receive purchase orders, as well as adjust related settings. When you receive purchase orders, the quantities of the products are updated in your inventory under the 'Manage Inventory' section in the 'Inventory' tab.
Within the 'Purchase Orders' section, there are three types of purchase orders:
- Draft: An unfinished PO that can be further edited before being placed as an 'Open' PO.
- Open: A purchase order that can be sent to a vendor and received partially or fully.
- Closed: Fully received purchase orders appear under closed purchase orders, allowing you to run various reports.
- For detailed instructions on how 'Purchase Order Management' section works, click here.
4. How do I receive products from a purchase order?
To add products to your inventory after creating a Purchase Order, you must receive the Purchase Order you made. You can choose to receive the entire order or just part of it, depending on what has been delivered.
- For detailed instructions on how to fully or partially receive purchase orders, click here.
5. What is a count sheet, and how do I use it to perform inventory counts?
What is Count Sheet?
Count Sheet is a powerful tool that enables your employees to accurately count products in your physical store, eliminating the hassle of manual inventory tracking product one by one. By utilizing the Count Sheet feature, your team can effortlessly create, manage, and execute inventory counts, all within a user-friendly interface.
How Does it Work?
The process begins on the SalesVu.com website portal, where managers can easily create count sheets tailored to their specific inventory needs. Once created, these count sheets are instantly synced with SalesVu POS app on iPads, making them accessible to employees on the shop floor.
Employees can then select the relevant count sheet directly from the POS app, allowing them to commence the inventory counting process. With intuitive features and clear instructions, employees can efficiently record the quantities of each product as they physically count them within the store.
- For detailed instructions on how to create and use count sheets, click here.
6. How do I create and manage custom fields for purchase orders in SalesVu?
SalesVu's vendor management module allows you to create and manage custom fields for purchase orders (POs), enabling you to tailor the purchasing process to your specific business needs. Custom fields help you capture additional information that is not covered by the default PO fields, enhancing your inventory tracking and record-keeping.
Benefits of Using Custom Fields:
- Flexibility: Add fields that are relevant to your business operations, such as internal order numbers, delivery preferences, or special instructions.
- Enhanced Tracking: Improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of your purchase orders by including all necessary details.
- Efficient Searching: Use custom fields to search and filter purchase orders, making it easier to locate specific transactions.
Key Features:
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Creation of Custom Fields:
- You can create multiple custom fields with names that suit your requirements.
- Custom fields appear under the 'Purchase Order Detail' section when creating or editing a PO.
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Management of Custom Fields:
- Edit or delete existing custom fields as your business needs change.
- Reorder custom fields to prioritize important information.
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Search Functionality:
- Search for purchase orders using custom fields, allowing for more efficient data retrieval and management.
Usage Example:
- If you need to track a supplier's shipment method for each PO, you can create a custom field called "Shipment Method".
- During PO creation, you can input the shipment method in this custom field.
- Later, you can search for all POs shipped via a specific method by using this custom field in your search criteria.
By leveraging custom fields in your purchase orders, you can ensure that all pertinent information is captured and easily accessible, leading to more efficient inventory management and smoother procurement processes.
For detailed instructions on how to create and manage purchase order custom fields in SalesVu, please click here.
7. How can I set inventory alerts for low stock levels?
SalesVu allows you to set up alerts for items with low stock levels by defining threshold quantities for each item. This helps your business mitigate the risk of stockouts by notifying you when stock reaches the predetermined low quantity, indicating that replenishment is needed.
- For detailed instructions on how to set up threshold alerts for items with low stock, click here.
8. How do I handle out-of-stock items?
SalesVu provides an Out of Stock Setting that allows you to customize how products appear when their inventory quantity reaches zero. This setting can be applied separately for E-commerce, POS, and kiosks.
With these settings, you can:
- Show an 'Out of Stock' banner: Display a banner on the product image to indicate it is out of stock. You can choose to allow or restrict sales of the item in this state.
- Remove the product from display: Completely hide the item from appearing on specific channels such as POS, E-commerce, or kiosks until it is restocked.
For detailed instructions on how to set up out-of-stock behavior for different items, click here.
9. How can I assign products to multiple storage areas for inventory tracking?
Yes, in SalesVu, you can assign products to multiple storage areas to better track inventory across different locations within your business. This feature allows you to manage stock levels for the same product stored in various areas, such as different rooms, warehouses, or store sections.
By enabling multiple storage areas and assigning products accordingly, you can:
- Perform Inventory Counts: Use count sheets to conduct inventory counts in specific storage areas, ensuring accurate stock levels.
- Monitor Stock Levels: Keep track of how much inventory is available in each area, helping prevent stockouts or overstocking.
- Optimize Inventory Management: Gain insights into inventory distribution across locations, aiding in efficient replenishment and storage decisions.
To set up multiple storage areas and assign products to them, you'll need to enable the feature in your settings, create the storage areas, and then assign products to these areas. Additionally, using count sheets allows employees to perform counts for products in different areas directly from the SalesVu POS app.
For detailed instructions on how to set up multiple storage areas and use count sheets, please click here.
10. Can I track individually identifiable items (serial numbers, maintenance dates) in inventory?
Yes, in SalesVu, you can track and manage individually identifiable items, such as bicycles, laptops, machinery, and equipment. This is done by utilizing customizable fields, which allow for detailed tracking and reporting on aspects such as serial numbers, physical location, maintenance dates, and more.
- For detailed instructions on how to set up tracking for individually identifiable items, click here.
11. How to Add Discounts and Other Fees to Purchase Orders in SalesVu?
In SalesVu, you have the ability to add discounts, shipping charges, and other fees to your purchase orders (POs). This feature allows for more flexible pricing and helps accommodate various cost factors in your transactions, ensuring that your purchase orders accurately reflect all associated costs or savings.
Enabling Discounts and Other Charges on Purchase Orders
To utilize this feature, you need to enable the option that allows adding other charges to POs. Once enabled, you can define different types of adjustments that can be applied to your purchase orders.
Applying Discounts and Charges
When creating or editing a purchase order, you can apply discounts and charges in several ways:
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Equally to the Cost of All Items in the PO:
- Description: This option spreads the discount or charge equally across all items in the purchase order.
- Use Case: Ideal when you receive a general discount from a vendor or need to apply a shipping fee that affects all items uniformly.
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To the Cost of Specific Products:
- Description: Allocate discounts or charges to specific items within the purchase order.
- Use Case: Useful when certain products have special pricing agreements or additional costs, such as bulk discounts on specific items.
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To the Total of the PO Without Affecting Costs:
- Description: Apply a discount or charge to the total purchase order amount without altering the individual product costs.
- Use Case: Suitable for overall adjustments like a vendor's promotional discount or an added service fee that shouldn't impact the cost of individual items.
After selecting the appropriate method, you can enter the discount or charge amounts accordingly. The system will update the purchase order totals, including the sub-total, other charges, discount amount, and total PO amount. This ensures that all financial aspects of the PO are accurately recorded.
Managing Purchase Orders with Discounts and Charges
Once discounts and charges are applied:
- View Detailed Breakdowns: Access your purchase orders to see a detailed breakdown of costs, including applied discounts and charges, total received amount, and total outstanding amount.
- Print or Edit POs: You can print the purchase order for your records or make further edits if necessary. Any changes will automatically update the totals.
For detailed instructions on how to enable this feature and apply discounts and other fees to purchase orders, please click here.
12. How can I transfer inventory between locations?
If your business operates across multiple locations, SalesVu allows you to transfer inventory from one location to another using the Inventory Transfer feature. This is useful for restocking purposes and balancing stock levels between stores.
Conditions for Inventory Transfer:
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Inventory Subscription at Each Location: Each location must have an active subscription to the Inventory Management feature.
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Consistent Product Names: Products must have identical names at each location to be recognized for transfer.
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Inventory Tracking Enabled: Products must be enabled for inventory tracking.
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Positive Quantity at Source Location: The source location must have a positive inventory quantity of the product to transfer.
Using the Inventory Transfer Feature:
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Access the Inventory Transfer option within the Inventory section of SalesVu.
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Select the source and destination locations for the transfer.
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Specify the products and quantities to transfer.
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Confirm the transfer to update inventory levels at both locations.
By utilizing the Inventory Transfer feature, you can efficiently manage stock levels, prevent stockouts, and optimize inventory distribution across multiple locations.
For detailed instructions on how to use this feature, please click here.
13. How can I print barcode labels for inventory tracking?
In SalesVu, you have the ability to export barcodes of your items in a CSV format, which can be used with any barcode label printer. Printing barcode labels is essential for efficient inventory tracking and streamlined sales processes.
Exporting Label Sheets:
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For All Products:
- You can export a label sheet for all your products at once from your SalesVu.com account.
- The exported sheet will include products enabled for inventory tracking based on their existing quantity.
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For Specific Purchase Orders:
- You can also export a label sheet for products associated with a specific open or closed purchase order (PO).
- This is useful when you need to print labels for new inventory received.
Using Barcode Label Printers:
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General Printers:
- If you are familiar with your barcode label printer and know how to print labels using data from an Excel document, you can use the exported CSV file with your printer.
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Recommended Printer - Dymo LabelWriter:
- For users who have not printed barcodes before, we recommend using the Dymo LabelWriter series of printers, such as the Dymo LabelWriter 450 or 550.
- These printers are compatible with SalesVu's exported label sheets and come with user-friendly software for designing and printing labels.
Printing Barcode Labels with Dymo LabelWriter:
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Purchase the Printer and Labels:
- Printer: Obtain a Dymo LabelWriter 550 or newer model.
- Labels: Use recommended label sizes, such as Dymo 30252 (1.25" x 3.5").
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Download Dymo LabelWriter Software:
- Install the Dymo LabelWriter software on your PC or laptop.
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Import Label Sheet into Software:
- Open the Dymo software and import the label sheet exported from SalesVu.
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Design Your Labels:
- Use the software to map barcode data and add text elements like product names and prices.
- Customize the label layout according to your preferences.
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Print Labels:
- Connect your Dymo printer to your computer.
- Ensure that labels are correctly loaded into the printer.
- Print the labels directly from the Dymo software.
Notes:
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Barcode Formats Supported: The Dymo software supports various barcode formats, including Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, UPC-E, and more.
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Error Checking: If the software displays errors, it may indicate that some mapped elements are not fitting within the label dimensions. Adjust the elements accordingly.
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Alternative Printers: If you're using a different label printer, you can still export the barcode numbers from SalesVu and create a label sheet compatible with your printer.
By printing barcode labels for your products, you enhance your inventory management capabilities, allowing for quick scanning and tracking of items during sales and stock counts.
For detailed instructions on how to print barcode labels in SalesVu, please click here.
Inventory Reporting
1. How do I view and export detailed reports on inventory movements?
In SalesVu, you can view and export detailed reports on inventory movements using the Inventory Adjustment Report. This report keeps track of all changes in your inventory quantities, including details such as the date of adjustment, before and after quantities, amount changed, unit, cost price, and notes. By default, the report displays negative adjustments, but you can configure it to include positive adjustments as well.
To view the Inventory Adjustment Report:
- Access the Inventory section on SalesVu.com.
- Navigate to the Adjustments tab.
- Customize filters such as date range, location, categories, reasons for adjustment, and more to refine the data displayed.
To export the report for external analysis:
- Click on the export icon or option within the report to download the data in CSV format.
- Open the CSV file in spreadsheet software to perform further analysis or integrate it with other data.
For detailed instructions on how to generate and export the Inventory Adjustment Report, click here.
2. What information does the All-in-One Sales & Profitability Master Report include?
The All-in-One Sales & Profitability Master Report is a comprehensive resource that provides crucial information about your business's income and expenses. It consolidates key SalesVu reports such as Profit Margin, Cost of Goods Sold, Most Recent Metrics (from your Purchase Orders), and Total Cost of Inventory. These insights are vital for analyzing and enhancing your total revenue, enabling you to make informed business decisions and drive profitability.
Here is what the All-in-One Sales & Profitability Master Report includes:
- Location: The business location associated with the data.
- Product & Category Information: Details about products and their categories.
- Net Margin (%): Represents the profit margin percentage.
- Net Profit ($): Displays the net profit amount.
- % of Profit: Indicates the percentage contribution of profit.
- Sales Net of Refunds ($): Total sales amount after deducting refunds.
- Discounts ($): Displays the total discount amount.
- Net Sales ($): Represents the total sales amount.
- Tax ($): Displays the tax amount.
- % of Sales: Indicates the percentage contribution of sales.
- Total Cost ($): Represents the total cost of goods sold.
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Start QTY & End QTY: The on-hand quantity of a product at the start and end of the reporting period.
- Note: Quantities are updated once every 24 hours. For example, if your quantity is initially 10 and you sell 5 items today, this change will be reflected in the report starting from 12 AM the next day.
- Total Asset Value ($): Displays the total value of assets.
- Total Retail Value ($): Indicates the total retail value of the products.
- % of Total Asset Value: Indicates the percentage of the remaining stock value.
- Net Sales (Prev. Year) ($): Net sales total for the previous year based on the selected date range of the current year.
- Net Sales Change %: Net sales change percentage comparison between the current and previous year's selected date range.
- % of Total Cost: Indicates the percentage of the total cost.
- Vendor Revenue Share ($): Shows the dollar amount for the vendor revenue share.
- Margin Net of Revenue Share ($): Indicates the margin net of revenue based on the 'Vendor Revenue Share'.
For detailed instructions and a video on how to use this powerful report, please click here.
3. Can I track budget utilization for different product categories in my reports?
Yes, in SalesVu, you can manage and track your inventory budgets by setting category-specific budgets and monitoring their utilization during the Purchase Order (PO) creation process. This allows you to keep an eye on spending and ensure that you stay within your set budget for each product category.
For detailed instructions on how to set up and track inventory budgets, click here.
4. How do I track and report on Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)?
In SalesVu, the All-in-One Master Report provides insights into your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). This report can show the total cost, average cost, and percentage of cost for a selected date range or a specific date, helping you analyze the financial impact of your inventory on your business.
For detailed instructions on how to run the report, click here.