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A bar inventory control system is a must-have solution for running a successful business. It will allow you, or anyone on your team for that matter, to take inventory in record time. Plus, you can feel confident that all inventory metrics are accurate and up to date.
So, if you want to achieve bar and restaurant success, it’s vital that you have the right systems in place. Check out the remainder of this article to learn everything you need to know before investing in a bar inventory app!
What Is Bar Inventory Control?
Bar inventory control refers to the process of continuously monitoring stock levels behind a bar. The items that you’re keeping track of in this process include everything from hard liquor to mixers. Cocktail napkins and garnishings may even be part of your analyses, too.
9 Tips for Choosing a Bar Inventory Control System
Before choosing a bar inventory system for your business, there’s a handful of things you should take into consideration. Read on for nine valuable tips that’ll make the decision-making process a bit easier.
1. Identify All Your Concerns
Before you can choose a bar inventory control system, it’s crucial to identify areas of improvement in your business. Besides, how will you be able to know if a software provider is capable of solving your problems if you’re unaware of what they are? Host meetings with your employees to gauge which concerns are hindering operations. Then, you’ll know exactly what to discuss when you schedule demos with SaaS companies.
View the next tip for more details on viewing demonstrations.
2. View a Live Demo
Once you find a bar inventory control system that might work for you, it’s time to schedule a demo. During this meeting, you’ll get to view a live demonstration of how the platform works. From the dashboard you see upon signing in to all the backend features, you’ll get a comprehensive view of what the platform has to offer. It’s during this meeting that you’ll be able to discuss your business’ needs with an industry expert. Hopefully, you’ll be fully aware by the end of the demo how the system in front of you can improve your business.
Ready to schedule a demo? Learning about BinWise, the leading bar inventory control system is just a couple of clicks away.
3. Determine How Customizable the Backend Will Be
The whole point of a bar inventory control system is to have accurate inventory metrics at all times. An easy way to measure exact quantities right down to the ounce is by customizing recipes in the backend. For instance, with a platform like BinWise, you can create individual recipes.
Then, when your bar staff is familiar with what goes into each drink, those liquor and mixer quantities will be deducted from the stock levels. This will take place right when the drink is added to the POS system. Access to customization features like this will grant you the utmost control over bar inventory.
4. Check If Your Current Systems Are Compatible
The best liquor inventory control systems will be able to connect to your restaurant’s POS system. However, not all platforms are completely universal. Find out which POS partners are compatible with the bar inventory control systems that you’re researching. By leveraging this feature to narrow down your search, you’ll save a significant amount of time. Plus, onboarding a platform that can seamlessly integrate with your current systems will be the key to operational efficiency.
5. Learn If You Can Input Inventory Manually
Beverage inventory control software companies make it easy to take inventory by distributing barcode stickers for each bottle. Then, you can use a barcode scanning tool to take inventory in minutes. But what if you have high-end wine and liquor bottles that you don’t want to garnish with labels? In this event, we suggest placing the barcode on the case the bottles come in. Or, across the edge of the shelves that you store them on.
But how easy is it to manually input quantities? That’s what you need to find out, because if it’s a time-consuming process, it may defeat the purpose of investing in a platform. Luckily, the BinWise app makes it a breeze to add specific quantities.
6. Confirm the Onboarding Timeline
How soon do you need to have a bar inventory control system installed? Is it a necessity, or can it wait a few months? Depending on the size of your bar and restaurant brand, the onboarding process can begin within a couple of weeks or months. Then, you have the timeline in which onboarding will be completed. Don’t forget to take training into consideration, too. When you have a clear idea of when you’ll have full use of the system, decide if it’ll be a suitable timeline for you and your team.
7. Find Out Which Data Points Will Be Accessible
It’s likely that certain restaurant data metrics will be more important to you than others. So, it’s vital that you find out which ones you’ll be able to access. For instance, some bar owners may want a complete overview of sales trends to identify best-selling drinks. This way, they’ll know what to market as drink specials. Meanwhile, viewing accurate par levels may be important for accurately forecasting upcoming orders.
8. Learn About Any Additional Hardware
Almost every bar inventory control system utilizes some kind of hardware. For instance, you may need a handheld device that scans the barcodes on each bottle. That should be the extent of it, but it’s always safe to double-check.
9. Choose a Product That Suits Your Budget
Sure, it may seem obvious to suggest that you should only consider bar inventory control systems that fit into your budget. But here’s the thing–you should also calculate how much money you anticipate saving upon onboarding such a platform. You see, manually taking inventory eats up a lot of time. Therefore, it drives the labor cost for any business owner. So, when you learn just how quickly you can take inventory with an automated system, consider potential cost savings as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bar Inventory Control
Want to learn more about beverage inventory control software? If so, check out the FAQ section below for additional information!
How Do You Control Bar Inventory?
You can take control of your bar inventory levels by using a system that accurately monitors your stock. Such a tool will deduct purchased quantities of various beverages from the POS platform. Then, you can have a granular view of what you have available and what you need to replace.
How Often Should a Bar Take Inventory?
If a bar is fairly busy, it’s worth taking inventory on a daily basis. But if there is limited foot traffic or few liquor sales, inventory-tracking processes can be a weekly occurrence.
How Do Bars Keep Track of Sales?
Bars keep track of sales by using an all-in-one POS system. As orders roll into the system, sales data is stored in a database and showcased via charts or graphs. From there, business executives can view things like revenue and profits. By using a liquor monitoring system, bar owners can see a clearer picture of alcohol sales specifically.
What Are Barcodes Used for In Regard to Inventory?
Barcodes allow bar employees to take inventory easily and efficiently. The way it works is you print barcode labels for all the types of alcohol you have in your liquor storage space. Then, with a handheld scanning device or barcode scanner app, you can briskly account for everything you have in stock.
What Is the Bar Inventory Formula?
The bar inventory formula is also known as the inventory usage formula. You can determine this figure with the following formula:
Bar Inventory = Opening Inventory + Purchases - Closing Inventory
Browsing Through Bar Inventory Control Systems? We’re Here to Help!
If you’re ready to dive into BinWise Pro, the ultimate bar inventory software, we’re here to help! We also have a blog that’s updated daily and a vast library of free resources. Take a look, and reach out if you have any questions about the platform!