Getting Started with Inventory

Tracking inventory can be one of the most time-consuming and frustrating aspects of operating a business. ESC is designed to help you track this inventory information, so you can feel more confident that the values and quantities that the system indicates you have is close to the reality of what you actually possess in your warehouse. Features like Serial parts allow you to track expensive items that otherwise might disappear from your warehouse, while setting up additional warehouses allow you to set up truck stock, allowing you to keep track of what is in your service trucks – and what ought to be.

There are a few simple steps that need to be performed before parts and equipment can be entered and used in the Inventory module. Click the title of each area for more information on that particular screen.

Enter Markup Codes - Markup codes allow you to automatically set prices for items you sell based on your cost to purchase the item. This enables you to instantly update any of your prices at anytime with a single click. Now you know you will always get the markup you should on everything you sell.

Enter Parts Categories - Setup categories and sub-categories to help you organize your inventory. Categories will also pay a part in how you mark up your inventory prices.

Inventory Setup - Set defaults will apply to new parts and equipment as you create them. Default settings for Price Book, Preferred Vendor, Markup Code, and Warehouse are set here. This is also where you will set the accounting method your company uses. Choose from FIFO (First In – First Out), Average Cost, or Last Purchase Price.

Inventory Entry - Now that the setup is done you can enter the parts themselves. Go to this help topic to learn all the tricks to help you get the most out of inventory parts in ESC.

Setting Initial Inventory Quantities - If you are going to track the number of items in your inventory, this topic will take you through the process of setting your initial inventory quantities step by step.