Use a Scanner for Physical Inventory

Physical Inventory Overview | Physical Inventory: Basic Steps

Basic

Using the QuickBooks-approved physical inventory scanner is an easy and efficient way to record and update your physical inventory. With the physical inventory scanner, you can review your inventory counts and resolve errors before you transfer the counts to your physical inventory. Since the scanner is portable, you can move freely around your store and scan the bar codes of all your inventory items. This option not only saves you time, but also helps to reduce inventory errors.

A physical inventory scanner allows you to scan thousands of units in inventory without needing to stop and upload the data. The scanner connects to your workstation via a USB interface, which makes it very convenient to use.

Using the scanner for a physical inventory includes these basic steps. Select a link for step-by-step instructions:

1. Scan your items and enter counts.

2. Upload the scanned data from your scanner to Point of Sale.

3. Review the retrieved scans.

4. Save the scans to the Physical Inventory window.

5. Update inventory on-hand quantities with your counts.

6. Clear scans from the physical inventory scanner unit, making it ready for the next scanning session.

You can use the physical inventory scanner in conjunction with manually entered counts. When you update your physical inventory, the on-hand quantities are adjusted in your inventory for all item counts on the Physical Inventory , regardless of how they got there.

Note: Two models of physical inventory scanner are supported. While the procedures for using them are the same, you may see slight differences in menu wording and button colors, names, or locations.
Illustration of the CipherLabs 8000 Scanner
Illustration of the Metrologic SP5500 Optimus Scanner

Related Topics

Use bar codes in Point of Sale

Install Supported Hardware