The Ultimate Guide to Warehouse Inventory Management: 80 Trusted Resources

Posted by Chris Scullin

Warehouse Market Leader

in Warehouse

Updated April 16th, 2024

Table of Contents

Warehouse inventory management may seem like a relatively simple process on the surface. After all, it’s inventory in, inventory out, right? In reality, managing warehouse inventory is a far more complex undertaking, so much so that various schools of thought have formed around the best approach to effective inventory control, resulting in a few well-established methodologies that provide a framework for inventory control in the warehouse and other settings. 
Beyond these frameworks, there are many other considerations. Should you use a warehouse inventory management software application? What about warehouse inventory management mobile apps? You’ve probably heard that mobility is all the rage among enterprises these days, but does mobility apply to the warehouse, and how can you compliment traditional software with the convenience provided by mobile apps? On top of these critical decisions, there are handheld scanning devices to consider, metrics to track to maximize productivity and profitability, and much more.
We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to warehouse inventory management as a robust resource to answer all of your most pressing questions about how you can improve processes, make smart buying decisions, and implement the systems and foundations that your warehouse needs to thrive.
Table of Contents: 

• Warehouse Inventory Management Methodologies
• Warehouse Inventory Management Best Practices
• Important Warehouse Inventory Management Metrics to Track
• Choosing the Right Warehouse Inventory Management Software
• Enhancing Your Inventory Management System with Mobile Apps
• Choosing the Right Barcode Scanners
• Low-Tech Solutions for Warehouse Inventory Management

Warehouse Inventory Management Methodologies

Efficient warehouse inventory management relies on a clear, established set of standards and procedures that ensure consistency. There’s no single best methodology for managing warehouse inventory; in fact, there are several widely used schools of thought including just-in-time inventory management, ABC analysis, cross-docking, dropshipping, and others. The right warehouse inventory management solution depends, of course, on several factors, most importantly your business model. Additionally, some strategies for inventory management are complimentary and can be used alongside other approaches, while others stand on their own.
Check out these 10 resources for more insights on the various methodologies for warehouse inventory management and how to choose the right methodology for your business:

• Inventory Management Techniques
• Warning: You’re Losing Money By Not Using These 8 Inventory Management Techniques
• Inventory Management Techniques and Their Importance
• Inventory Management Techniques
• Warehousing and Inventory Management 
• Warehouse Inventory Control 
• Inventory Management Techniques for Business Success
• Stock Control and Inventory
• ABC Warehousing and inventory control
• Just-in-Time Inventory Management

Warehouse Inventory Management Best Practices

Along with broad inventory management methodologies, there are dozens of inventory management strategies that focus on optimizing a specific facet of operations. For example, forecasting is a widely used strategy for optimizing inventory and space utilization while maximizing profitability.
For more information about warehouse inventory management best practices and how you can put them to use today to gain better control over your inventory, check out the 14 resources below:

• 6 Inventory Control Techniques for Stock Optimization
• 7 Tips for Warehouse Inventory Management
• Warehouse/DC Management: Six best practices for better inventory management
• 5 Lean Best Practices for the Warehouse
• Warehouse Best Practices
• 11 Warehouse and Distribution Center Best Practices for Your Supply Chain
• 13 Best Practices for Warehouse Productivity
• Strategic Logistics: 8 Steps to Controlling Inventory Flow & Driving Warehouse Efficiency
• 7 Best Practices for Inventory Management for Warehouses
• Top 10 Losing Warehouse Strategies and How to Avoid Them
• Strategic Logistics: 8 Steps to Controlling Inventory Flow & Driving Warehouse Efficiency
• Inventory Management 101: Time to revisit the principles
• Warehouse/DC Management: Inventory management requires an end-to-end approach
• Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI): Stopgap or Long-term?

Important Warehouse Inventory Management Metrics

In addition to following best practices, there are important metrics that can aid warehouses in staying on track and optimizing business operations. From setting benchmarks on minimum and maximum stock levels to determining the ideal order quantity, preparing and monitoring budgets, and other metrics and calculations, effective inventory management is about implementing effective systems and then keeping tabs on reports and measurements to ensure that you’re meeting business objectives.
Want to learn more about the most important metrics you should be tracking to keep tabs on warehouse inventory? These 12 resources break down the most important metrics to measure:

• 6 Most Important Techniques of Inventory Control System
• The Warehouse KPI’s You Need to Know
• Metrics, Benchmarking & Best Practices: Increasing DC Productivity & Efficiency
• Top Warehouse Performance KPIs
• Finding metrics that mean something in the warehouse
• How Warehouse Management Leaders Measure Their Success
• 12 Key Metrics For Supply Chain Management
• 7 Metrics You Need to Streamline Your Warehousing Processes
• Demand Forecasting – Objectives, Classification and Characteristics of a Good Forecast
• Top Warehouse Performance KPIs
• 6 Important Inventory KPIs That Can Make or Break Your Warehouse
• Warehousing KPIs – What to Measure and What to Improve

Choosing the Right Warehouse Inventory Management Software

Warehouse leaders increasingly turn to sophisticated software applications to manage inventory. Cloud-based systems can connect with apps (discussed below) and scanning devices for a seamless, real-time flow of data throughout the organization. Warehouses have become fast-paced, bustling business atmospheres with a constant flow of inventory in and out of the facility, making the real-time availability of accurate data an important component in effective inventory management.
Choosing the right warehouse inventory management software can seem like a daunting task, but these 13 resources will guide you to the right choice:

• Top Inventory Management Software: 30 Tools to Control and Track Your Inventory Like a Pro
• How to Choose the Right Warehouse Management System
• 5 Tips on Selecting the Right Inventory Management System
• How to Choose a Warehouse Management System
• Compare Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) Software
• Top Warehouse Management Software Products
• Inventory Software – How to Choose the Suitable Inventory Software for your Business?
• How to Choose Your Inventory Management Software
• Warehouse Management Software: The 51 Best Tools and Systems to Improve Warehouse Efficiency, Reduce Overhead and Boost Profits
• Inventory Management Can Be a Breeze with the Right Software
• Choosing the Best Inventory Tracking Software
• 10 Benefits of Choosing the Correct WMS for You
• The Six Factors to Consider When Acquiring a New WMS

Enhancing Your Inventory Management System with Mobile Apps

Beyond warehouse inventory management software, mobile apps can further improve the efficiency of your warehouse operation. Often, the most efficient warehouses make use of a combination of tools including barcode scanners, software applications, and mobile apps that work seamlessly together to facilitate the real-time flow of information. Mobility is a hot topic among many industries, and warehouses are no exception. But choosing the right apps that integrate seamlessly with your software applications is the best way to avoid technical hangups that can hinder productivity.
To learn more about how to use mobile apps to boost productivity and improve inventory management and compare the top warehouse inventory management apps for Android and iOS devices, check out these 10 resources:

• Top 30 Inventory Management, Control and Tracking Apps
• Top Mobile Apps for Warehouse Managers: 50 Useful Apps for Managing Inventory, Shipping and Tracking, Workflow and More
• Best iPad Inventory Management Apps: iPad in Business
• Best iPhone Apps For Warehouse Management
• The 5 Best Inventory Management Apps
• The Benefits of Using Mobile Apps for Warehouse Management
• 8 Amazing Logistics & Supply Chain Mobile Applications
• Warehouse Management Software: Best Comparison List of Vendor Applications & Tools
• Using Mobility to Elevate Warehouse Management
• What you need to know about mobile inventory management system

Choosing the Right Barcode Scanners

No warehouse inventory management system is complete without barcode scanning devices. Many warehouses make use of handheld scanning devices that enable workers to quickly and easily scan racks and shelves to reduce picking and stocking time without being limited by the length of a cord. Of course, there are tradeoffs for wireless and wired handheld scanners, so the right scanning devices depends on your specific applications and business cases.
The following 10 resources offer valuable insights on how to choose the right barcode scanners for your warehouse:

• 19 Experts Share the Most Important Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Barcode Scanning System
• Barcode Scanner Buying Guide: How to Choose a Handheld Scanner
• Barcode Scanner Buying Guide: 6 Things to Consider When Purchasing a Barcode Scanner
• Barcode Scanner Buying Guide
• Hand Held Barcode Scanners Buying Guide
• Handheld Hardware Recommendations
• How To Choose A Barcode Scanner?
• Understanding and selecting barcode inventory scanners
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Barcode Scanners
• Learn how to select a barcode scanner or bar code reader for any application.

Low-Tech Solutions for Warehouse Inventory Management

Technology has made great strides in the warehousing field, providing valuable tools and systems to streamline warehouse operations, improve efficiency and accuracy. But technology isn’t the only way to improve inventory management; there are plenty of low-tech and legacy solutions and tools — such as barcode labels and appropriate warehouse signage — to keep tabs on inventory and facilitate a smooth workflow. In fact, low- and no-tech solutions are sometimes more suitable for specific business uses.
Check out the following 11 resources for guidance on choosing the right barcode labels, how label and signage solutions can improve efficiency and simplify inventory management, and other low-tech solutions for improving operations: