GroovePacker is usually paired with additional apps that have a full suite of inventory features, such as ShippingEasy or Ecomdash. If desired, GroovePacker’s inventory tracking can be used alongside these apps to maintain an independent inventory count based on the physical items shipped. This can be helpful if inventory discrepancies are found in the sold inventory count.
In some cases, the basic inventory count that GroovePacker maintains is sufficient for warehouses to keep tabs on inventory levels and prevent out-of-stocks. In these cases, GroovePacker can be used as the inventory master.
Since GroovePacker does not automatically sync inventory to and from other apps you'll occasionally need to import updated counts into GroovePacker or export them from GroovePacker if you choose to use it’s inventory tracking features.
GroovePacker makes it easy to import and export product data but by design it is not an automated process. Since GroovePacker tracks physical inventory rather than sold inventory which is typically tracked in other channels and apps. This gives you the opportunity to reconcile inventory in cases when a discrepancy is identified.
Let’s look at a few common scenarios where it's helpful to export or import inventory counts:
Recounting Inventory with GroovePacker
GroovePacker allows you to use the barcode scanner to verify each item when counts are entered. This assures that inventory adjustments are applied properly. If a partial recount is being done then the steps below, under receiving inventory, should be followed to ensure that the inventory in GroovePacker is up to date. If a full recount is being done the starting level in GroovePacker will not matter as it will be overwritten.
You may want to update the QOH of every item to 0 or to a specific placeholder value before beginning the count. This makes it easy to verify which items have had counts entered and which have not.
When the count for each SKU is complete the user can scan the barcode of the item on the recount screen and enter the total that was counted. The scanner can also be used to count each piece.
When counts for all SKUs have been entered you can export the current QOH from GroovePacker using this method.
Receiving Inventory with GroovePacker
Each SKU that is being received can be identified using the barcode scanner to ensure that the count being revived is added to the correct item. Before receiving new inventory into GroovePacker you’ll want to be sure that the count you have in GroovePacker is correct. If GroovePacker is being used as your inventory master, or if you’ve recently done a recount and entered it directly in GroovePacker, then your counts should be up to date and you are ready to receive the inventory. On the other hand, if your online store or order manager have the current count you’ll want to bring that current count into GroovePacker first. This can be done by exporting the inventory to a CSV and then importing that CSV to GroovePacker.
Here are instructions for some of the possible export sources:
Exporting product data from Shopify
Exporting product data from ShipStation
Exporting product data from ShippingEasy
Most marketplaces and apps have a CSV export option. Generally, you will not need to open this export file and make changes before importing to GroovePacker. If you do, please follow the tips in this article to avoid common data loss issues.
Importing the data into GroovePacker only takes a few clicks. A saved map sends the incoming columns to the correct fields. If you have a new import format that does not have a map yet please reach out to GroovePacker support and we will set it up for you. For importing inventory counts only two fields are required 1) SKU 2) QOH (the current quantity on hand count).
For info on how to import the data and update the inventory count please see this article.
Next, you can use GroovePacker’s receive and recount function to receive the new inventory.
After all of the inventory has been received you’ll export the current QOH from GroovePacker using this method.
The counts, including the received inventory, can now be imported into your online store or order manager.
Push / Pull Inventory sync with Shopify
Please reach out to GroovePacker Support if you are interested in advanced inventory sync options with Shopify.