Inventory Intelligence Scorecard

No visibility

Each branch operates independently — no central view

Manual process

Phone calls, emails, or spreadsheets to check other branches

Partial ERP view

Some visibility but incomplete — not trusted for decisions

Full real-time view

Live stock across all locations, trusted by sales and ops

Annual audit

Dead stock discovered once a year — usually at write-off time

Quarterly review

Reviewed every 90 days — slow-movers often become dead before action

Monthly report

Monthly visibility — some recovery possible but capital already tied up

Automated weekly alert

Flagged automatically before 60-day threshold — capital still recoverable

Gut feel and experience

Buyers decide based on memory and instinct — no system input

Manual rules in Excel

Spreadsheet-based reorder points — updated infrequently

Semi-automated review

System generates proposals but buyers override frequently

Fully automated

Proposals driven by live velocity, lead time, and demand signal

Never

Reps quote from memory or old price sheets — no cost visibility

Sometimes

Cost data available but rarely checked before quoting

Usually

Most reps check cost before quoting — manual lookup required

Always in real time

Live landed cost including freight and duties at point of quote

We find out when it happens

Stockouts discovered at point of order — no forward signal

1–3 days notice

Short warning window — not enough time to act

Around 1 week

Some lead time to respond — limited by supplier lead times

2+ weeks forward signal

Demand building detected early enough to reposition or reorder