Stock Control
Real-time inventory management gives you instant visibility and full control of your stock in all locations
With our sophisticated stock control at the heart of your system you can improve forecasting and buying decisions and balance stock across your business.
Use scanners to increase efficiencies, make it fast, simple and accurate to log goods received, carry out stock checks, and manage branch and warehouse transfers, resulting in tight control of stock as it moves around your business.
Our inventory management software streamlines your stock movements, improves accuracy, and provides complete visibility across your business
From receiving goods to managing transfers and stocktakes, Futura gives you the tools to track every movement in real time. With barcode scanning, accurate replenishment, and intelligent reporting, you’ll maintain tighter control and make smarter stock decisions across all channels.
New inventory management, merchandise planning and automated stock controls have delivered immediate benefits, it’s great – our favourite part of the system. With full stock visibility across the business, it’s accurate, easy to manage and simple to update.”
Core features for keeping a tight control of your Stock
- Estate wide real time stock visibility
- Goods Receipts matched to purchase orders
- Stocktaking by supplier, category and across all items
- Tracking of in-transit stock
- Barcode scanning for all key processes
- Recommended purchase ordering
- Target and minimum stock levels
- Barcode labelling
- Accurate allocations of stock
- Warehouse management
- Scanner picking for stores and online
Want to know more about how you can optimise all aspects of your warehouse operations?
Futura WMS is a scalable solution designed to meet the needs of warehouses of all sizes, whether handling traditional stock movements of managing complex e-commerce orders.
Leading retailers using Futura today
Inventory Management & Stock Control FAQ’s
Here are some frequently asked questions about Inventory Management & Stock Control
What is inventory management/stock control?
Stock control- also known as inventory management- is the process of maintaining the right products in the right quantities at the right time. It ensures you can meet customer demand while avoiding overstocking or understocking. It’s key to maximising cash flow and retail efficiency.
Why is effective stock control crucial for my retail business?
With effective stock control, you can:
- Prevent stockouts and excess inventory using safety stock and minimum stock levels
- Improve cash flow by avoiding unnecessary purchases
- Enhance customer satisfaction with better product availability
- Reduce losses from obsolete or misplaced stock
- Make informed decisions through advanced stock visibility and performance metrics
What are the biggest challenges retailers face with manual or outdated stock control?
Common challenges include:
- Inaccurate or outdated stock data
- Time-consuming stock counts and reconciliations
- Limited visibility across stores, warehouses, and ecommerce
- Excess inventory due to lack of control
- Missed sales from out-of-stock or oversold products
How does Futura4Retail’s stock control solution provide real-time visibility?
Futura4Retail gives you real-time visibility of stock across your entire retail operation – including stores, warehouses, and online channels. Every transaction and stock movement is captured, ensuring all staff have accurate data at all times.
Can Futura4Retail help with demand forecasting and automated replenishment?
Futura4Retail analyses real-time sales data and applies predefined rules—like minimum and target stock levels—to calculate optimal reorder quantities. It can auto-generate purchase orders based on supplier terms, lead times, and pricing for fast, accurate replenishment.
The system also draws on historical sales patterns to forecast both long-term trends and short-term seasonal spikes. Whether you’re gearing up for peak periods like Christmas or school holidays, or adjusting to sudden demand from promotions or weather events, you stay one step ahead.
How does your system handle stock transfers between stores and warehouses?
Futura4Retail and StockHub WMS make stock transfers between stores and warehouses fast and accurate.
Transfers can be as simple as scanning items on the POS screen to trigger a movement or managed using handheld scanners in the back office or warehouse. You can track items in transit, confirm what’s been sent or received, and update stock levels in real time. This improves visibility, reduces errors, and keeps your inventory in sync across all locations.
Is Futura4Retail’s stock control compatible with barcode scanning?
Yes. Barcode scanning is built into your stock control workflow—whether in the stockroom, warehouse or shop floor. It supports key tasks including:
- Goods receiving – scan deliveries, with or without purchase orders
- Stocktakes – perform quick spot checks or full counts
- Picking & packing – scan items during order fulfilment
- Minimum stock level updates – view and adjust on the spot
- Inter-branch transfers – scan, confirm, and reconcile stock movements
Barcode use speeds up operations, reduces human error, and helps ensure stock accuracy.
How does Futura4Retail support multi-channel or omnichannel inventory management?
Futura4Retail synchronises inventory across physical stores, ecommerce platforms, and central warehouses, offering a unified view. This prevents overselling, enables click-and-collect or ship-from-store services, and ensures inventory is managed efficiently across all sales channels.
What kind of reporting and analytics does the system offer for inventory?
Futura4Retail turns data into decisions with real-time reporting across every layer of your inventory. You’ll have access to:
- Stock valuations and discrepancy reports
- Sales trends and Inventory turnover
- Reorder Report / Suggested Purchase Orders based on current and forecasted demand.
You can also perform rolling stocktakes with built-in variance reporting, so you stay accurate without the disruption of full stock counts.
How does Futura4Retail help in managing slow-moving or obsolete stock?
Futura4Retail identifies slow-moving or non-performing stock through targeted reporting. You can take proactive actions—such as markdowns, promotions, or store transfers—to reduce waste and free up working capital.
How does Futura4Retail help with bundled or kit-based products?
Futura4Retail supports sets – bundled products made up of individual SKUs sold together. When a set is sold or broken apart, the system automatically adjusts stock levels of the individual components, maintaining accurate inventory records.
Can Futura4Retail integrate with our existing accounting or ERP systems?
Absolutely. Futura4Retail offers robust integration capabilities, enabling seamless connections with accounting software, ERP systems and ecommerce platforms.
Is the system scalable as my business grows?
Yes. Whether you’re adding new products, stores, warehouses, or ecommerce channels, Futura4Retail can scale to support your growth. The system handles unlimited SKUs, multiple locations, and growing transaction volumes with ease.
How does Futura4Retail manage warehouse efficiency and costing?
Our warehouse solution, StockHub WMS, supports multi-bin locations within warehouses to optimise picking and packing efficiency. You can also maintain accurate profit insights with automated landed cost calculations, including freight and duties.
What kind of training and support is available for our staff?
Futura4Retail provides:
- Tailored onboarding and training programmes (on-site and remote)
- Access to comprehensive user guides and resources
- Ongoing UK-based support, offering responsive and expert help whenever needed
We’re here to ensure your team gets the most out of the system, long after go-live.