What you want ?

AutoCount- Item Batch

Why Use the AutoCount Item Batch Module ?

If your business deals with products that have expiration dates, require quality control, or need regulatory compliance, then the AutoCount Item Batch Module is a game-changer. This powerful tool helps you track product batches with precision, ensuring your inventory management is efficient, compliant, and waste-free. In this article, we’ll explore why this module is essential for industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perishables, and more.

This video provides a comprehensive understanding of the AutoCount Item Batch Module, detailing its features and how to effectively manage item batches, including tracking expiry dates and batch quantities like a pro.

Why Your Business Needs the AutoCount Item Batch Module for Efficient Inventory Management?

Every business that handles products requiring batch tracking needs an efficient system in place. The AutoCount Item Batch Module offers a wide range of features that provide businesses with greater control over their inventory, minimize waste, and streamline operations.

How the AutoCount Item Batch Module Helps ?

Effective management of expiry dates is crucial for industries that deal with products that have a shelf life. The AutoCount Item Batch Module makes it easier to track and control expiry dates for various industries:

Food & Beverage Industry

Keep track of expiration dates and apply FIFO (First In, First Out) methods to sell older stock first, reducing waste and ensuring product safety.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Comply with regulatory requirements by maintaining detailed records of expiry dates for medications and ensuring they are not sold after their valid period.

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Track the shelf life of skincare, beauty, and personal care products to ensure customers receive only high-quality, safe products.

The Importance of Batch Tracking for Perishable Goods

Perishable goods, such as vegetables, dairy, and meat, require constant monitoring for expiry and quality. The AutoCount Item Batch Module ensures that perishable items are always sold before their expiry date, helping your business reduce losses.

Key Features of the AutoCount Item Batch Module

The AutoCount Item Batch Module is packed with features that support detailed inventory tracking, quality control, and reporting. These features help businesses stay organized, compliant, and efficient.

Batch Tracking from Purchase to Sale

Using batch numbers from purchase invoices to sales transactions ensures complete traceability. Here’s how it works:

Inventory Updates

When a batch reaches its last sale date, the system ensures that the batch is no longer available for selection, helping you avoid selling expired or defective products.

Batch Number Tracking

Assign batch numbers to items during purchase and keep track of these batches as they move through your inventory.

Sales and Purchase Document Entry

When creating sales or purchase invoices, you can select the specific batch, ensuring you sell the right batch based on expiry date or quality.

Streamlined Reporting for Inventory Management

The AutoCount Item Batch Module also offers a suite of reports to help you manage your inventory effectively:

  • Expired Item Batch Listings

    Get a clear view of expired items, allowing you to take action and avoid selling expired stock.

  • Item Profit Margin by Batch

    Assess which batches contribute the most to your profit, helping you make more informed decisions about stock management.

  • Stock Aging Report

    Identify slow-moving batches and decide whether to apply discounts, run promotions, or write off stock.

How to Set Up and Use the AutoCount Item Batch Module for Seamless Inventory Tracking

Setting up the AutoCount Item Batch Module is straightforward and ensures you can immediately start tracking batches. Here’s how to get started:

Enable Batch Tracking in Stock Item Maintenance

  • Navigate  to Stock > Stock Item Maintenance.
  • Create New Stock Items or Edit Existing Items: You can either create new stock items or edit existing ones.
  • Enable the “Controlled by Batch No.” option. This ensures each stock item is tracked by batch number.

Adding Batch Information to Items

Once batch control is enabled, you can add detailed information to each batch.

Enter Opening Balance by Batch

To maintain stock item opening balances, you cannot set the quantity directly in Stock Item Maintenance. Instead, it must be done through Item Opening Balance.

There are two methods for this:

1. Manual Entry

  • After creating the batch number in Stock Item Maintenance, navigate to:
    Stock > More Stock Maintenance > Item Opening Balance Maintenance.
  • Click Apply Filter > Auto-generate Opening Balance by Filter Criteria.
  • Manually fill in the information for each batch.

2. Import by Excel (Recommended)

  • Input the required data in an Excel sheet. Headers in red are mandatory fields.
  • Copy the entire Excel data, including headers.

Excel Template

To import batch information efficiently, you need to use the provided Excel template. This template ensures accurate data entry and system compatibility.

  • Open Management Studio (backend).
  • Navigate to Import > Stock Item Opening.
  • Click Paste from Clipboard. After validation, click Import.

Note

The system will auto-generate batch numbers, even if they were not pre-entered.

  • Refresh in Stock Item Opening or Stock Item Maintenance to view the successfully imported batch information.

How to Use the AutoCount Item Batch Module for Purchases, Sales and Reporting?

Using Batch Numbers in Purchase Invoices

  • Navigate to Purchase > Purchase Invoice.
  • Create a new invoice and select the supplier.
  • Add the item code to the invoice. In the Batch No. column, select the appropriate batch from the dropdown menu.
  • If adding a new batch, click Add New and enter the batch details (e.g., Batch No., Manufactured Date, or Expiry Date).
  • Click Save to finalize the purchase invoice.

Selling Items by Batch Number

  • Navigate to Sales > Invoice.
  • Create a new invoice.
  • Select the appropriate batch to sell:
    • Use the FIFO (First In, First Out) principle to sell older batches first.
    • Let items with later expiry dates remain in stock longer.

To manage batches effectively

Click Show Instant Info to view stock balance and location details (requires the Multi-Location module ).
The Last Sale Date determines batch visibility. If the invoice date exceeds the last sale date, the batch will be hidden and unavailable for selection.

Report Options - Filter by Batch

  • Navigate to Stock > Stock Card Report.
  • View detailed product movements, including inflow, outflow, balance, cost, and more.
 

  • Navigate to Stock > Stock Item Profit Margin Report.
  • Click More Options and select Show Batch No.

This displays the profit margin for each batch, helping identify which batches contribute most to profitability.

  • Navigate to Stock > Expired Item Batch Listing Report.
  • Use the date range filter to display relevant details like the last sale date and expiry date, assisting in inventory planning.

  • Navigate to Stock > Stock Aging Report.
  • Enable the Show Batch option to analyze slow-moving stock by batch, helping decide on discounts, promotions, or write-offs.

  • Navigate to Inquiry > Batch Number Transaction Inquiry.
  • Search using the item code or batch number to trace:
    • The supplier who provided the batch.
    • The customer who purchased it.
  • Useful for tracking and resolving any issues with specific batches.

Other Settings

This setting is useful when the business owner wants employees to input transactions first and add batch numbers later.
  • Navigate to Tools > Options > Stock > General Stock Setting.
  • Enable the Allow to Save Empty Batch No. option.

Note

Remember to update the batch numbers later to ensure accurate tracking.

  • In Sales Invoices, zero-balance batches are hidden to reduce unnecessary details and save time.
  • In Purchases, zero-balance batches will remain visible, as suppliers may still have stock in that batch.
  • Navigate to Tools > Options > Invoicing > Document Control.
  • Enable the Show Zero Balance Quantity Batch Number in Item Batch Lookup Edit option.

If employees enter the same batch in multiple rows, reports will show duplicate lines for the same batch. This setting merges such entries for a cleaner report.

  • Navigate to Report > Document Style Report Control.
  • Enable the Batch No. option under "When Item Code, UOM, and any of the following are the same, merge the detail lines."

Recalculating stock costing for each batch can be time-consuming. Enabling this setting speeds up the process by ignoring batch numbers in costing calculations.

  • Navigate to Tools > Stock Costing Option.
  • Click Advanced Costing Option and enable Ignore Batch No. in Costing Calculation.
  • Save the setting.
  • Return to Costing Calculation Option and click Recalculate Stock Costing.

This setting optimizes the recalculation process, especially for systems with numerous item batches.

Best Practices for Managing Inventory Using the AutoCount Item Batch Module

To get the best results from the AutoCount Item Batch Module, follow these best practices:

  • FIFO (First In, First Out) Inventory Management

    Always sell older batches first to ensure products are used before their expiry dates. This minimizes waste and ensures your customers receive the freshest products.

  • Regular Inventory Audits and Reporting

    Use the module’s reporting features to monitor batch-specific performance and identify slow-moving or expired stock. Regular audits help prevent inventory issues and maintain accurate records for compliance.

  • Multi-location Inventory Management

    If you operate in multiple locations, use the multi-location module to track batches across different stores or warehouses. This ensures accurate stock levels and helps you prevent stockouts or overstocking at any location.

How the AutoCount Item Batch Module Ensures Regulatory Compliance and Traceability?

Many industries require detailed reporting and traceability for their products. The AutoCount Item Batch Module helps ensure compliance with industry regulations by maintaining accurate batch records.

Compliance with Industry Standards and Regulations

Food Industry

Stay compliant with food safety regulations by tracking batches with expiration dates and manufacturing details.

Pharmaceuticals

Maintain full traceability of medications and drugs to comply with GxP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and other regulatory standards.

Cosmetics and Personal Care

Ensure products meet safety standards by accurately tracking batch numbers, expiry dates, and product testing results.

Efficient Product Recall Management

In case of a product recall, the batch tracking feature allows you to trace the affected items quickly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of selling defective or unsafe products.

Advanced Plugins for the AutoCount Item Batch Module

For businesses with advanced requirements, the AutoCount Item Batch Module offers plugins that elevate its functionality. These include:

Easy Batch Number Entry

Make batch tracking a breeze with the Easy Batch Number Entry Plugin! Streamline batch number entry for your inventory, reducing errors and saving time. Perfect for businesses managing stock with batch-specific details.



Streamline Your Accounting Process

Find the Perfect Plan to Optimize Your Business Finances

Discover Plans

Conclusion

The AutoCount Item Batch Module is an invaluable tool for businesses in industries that deal with products requiring batch tracking, expiry date management, and quality control. Whether you’re in the food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industry, this module helps you stay compliant, reduce waste, improve inventory turnover, and ensure product quality. By using this module, your business can streamline operations and make more informed decisions about stock management.

FAQs

The AutoCount Item Batch Module is a tool that helps businesses manage products in batches, including tracking expiry dates, quality, and compliance with industry standards.

Each item is assigned a unique batch number and can be tracked throughout its lifecycle, from purchase to sale, including key details like expiry dates and manufactured dates.

Yes, it’s perfect for industries like food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perishable goods, all of which need detailed expiry and quality control.

You can import batch data via Excel by preparing a list of batch details and uploading it into the system using Management Studio.

Table Of Content