Inventory Management
How to Track Rental Inventory Day to Day
Daily habits for knowing what is out, returning, in washing, or free—using orders and product records together.
- inventory
- tracking
Tracking rental inventory is less about annual stocktakes and more about today’s movements: what leaves on the Dispatch tab, what should hit Return, and what is stuck overdue on Disputed.
The business problem
Pieces go “missing” operationally long before they are stolen: sitting at a venue, in a washing bag, or booked under a misspelled customer name. Without a daily map, staff confirm new inquiries from hope.
Why shops struggle
- Inventory list separate from booking list
- No morning briefing—everyone invents priority
- Alteration pieces vanish into the tailor’s pile without a flag
- Owners off-site cannot see live status on phone
Traditional approach
WhatsApp group: “Where is SKU L-214?” Replies arrive late. Meanwhile another staff member already promised it.
Better day-to-day tracking
- Morning: Summary → Dispatch for today’s bags and delivery challans.
- Check Summary → Alterations for outfits flagged Alteration needed.
- Afternoon: Summary → Return for expected inward garments.
- Clear Summary → Disputed for late incomplete returns.
- For any doubtful SKU, open the product → Related orders.
- Toggle washing status when pieces move to laundry and back.
- Owner glance on mobile: dashboard counts for today’s dispatch/return/disputed.
| Signal | Where to look | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Going out today | Summary → Dispatch | Prep, challan, status → dispatched |
| Needs tailor | Summary → Alterations | Finish work → ready to dispatch |
| Due back | Summary → Return | Receive, settle deposit, wash |
| Overdue | Summary → Disputed | Call customer, protect next booking |
Inventory tracking for rentals is mostly order movement tracking.
Tradock-supported workflow
Tradock Summary board (Dispatch | Alterations | Return | Disputed) is the daily inventory pulse. Product Related orders show active bookings for a SKU. Availability Check lists overlapping future bookings. Washing board filters In washing vs Washed & ready. Search by item code in Summary helps floor staff find the right card fast. Offline sync keeps local order/product data usable on the floor.