Welcome to the Storage Areas and Sequences guide! This will help you make the most of the Expressway Mobile Inventory Counting application by setting up storage areas that match your store layout. The goal is to streamline your inventory counting process and enhance accuracy.
What Are Storage Areas?
Storage areas represent different sections of your store, such as:
Freezer
Cooler
Dry Goods
Other storage areas based on your specific layout
These areas should be set up to align with how items are stocked in your store, a method often referred to as "shelf-to-sheet." In this application, we call it "shelf-to-screen." This setup helps create a digital map of your restaurant's storage.
How to Set Up Effective Storage Areas
1. Map Storage Areas to Your Store Layout
Build your storage areas to mirror the layout of your restaurant.
The goal is to create a logical flow through the store while counting, without needing to jump between areas.
For example, if chicken breasts are stocked in multiple locations, ensure they are listed in each relevant area—not just a single catch-all.
2. Keep Storage Areas to a Minimum
Avoid creating an excessive number of storage areas; most stores need 7 or fewer.
Fewer areas make ongoing maintenance simpler and faster.
3. Regular Maintenance
Products will change over time—some will be discontinued, others will move locations.
Spend a few minutes before each count to adjust your storage areas as needed. This will ensure accuracy and save time during counts.
Delaying updates increases the time needed for counting and the risk of errors.
Managing Your Inventory Items
1. Accessing Active and Inactive Items
Your inventory has active and inactive lists. Use these to hide items you no longer use and reactivate items as needed.
To manage your items, click Inventory Items:
The Active button shows currently used items.
The Inactive button displays hidden items.
The All Items button shows both active and inactive items.
2. Activating or Deactivating Items
Use the toggle to switch items between active and inactive lists.
If you can't find an item while building storage areas, check the Inactive list first and toggle it back to active if needed.
Conversely, if you no longer use an item, deactivate it to keep your reporting clean and reduce the chances of errors during counting.
3. Need Assistance?
If you still cannot find an item after checking both lists, please open a support call with the Express Help Desk for assistance.
Building Storage Areas in the Expressway Mobile App
1. Create New Storage Areas
Go to the Count tab and click on the Storage tab.
Click the Areas button to get started. If no default areas are provided, click the + icon to add a new area.
Name your area (e.g., "Freezer") and select an icon if desired.
2. Adding Items to Storage Areas
Click on the newly created area to add items.
Use the Search Inventory Item box on the right to find items by typing three to four letters.
Click the + icon to add an item or drag and drop it into the desired position on the list.
3. Organizing Item Sequences
Ensure the sequence of items matches their physical order in the area.
Drag items to rearrange them or click the X to remove any item from the list.
An item can be placed in multiple areas or even listed more than once in the same area if needed.
4. Edit or Rename Areas
Click the pencil icon next to an area's name to rename it.
5. Finalizing Your Storage Areas
When you’re satisfied with the order of items, click Exit Area Sequences.
Repeat the process for all other storage areas until your layout is complete.