Performing a Stocktake across Multiple Handhelds

Using multiple handhelds to complete a singular stocktake in Ramp Retail

The Stocktake feature allows users to perform multiple, successive cycle counts on a single stocktake across multiple devices.  By conducting multiple cycle counts, you ensure higher accuracy and flexibility when verifying inventory.

Before beginning, make sure you have enabled the necessary settings to allow for continuous processing of cycle counts.

Prerequisites

• Prepare for the stocktake by preparing your stock to be easily scannable. For further information, please check our Preparing for Stocktakes article.
• The Notify on Processing on Complete setting must be turned on.
  • This setting can be found under Settings > Stocktake > Notify on Processing Complete.
  • When enabled, the handheld will automatically notify you once the uploaded stocktake scans have been processed by the server.
  • This setting is important for enabling the ability to submit multiple scans across multiple devices.

Starting a Stocktake

To start a stocktake, users can do so from the portal or from the handheld device. This article is focused around doing so from the handheld device. 

1. Open the Ramp Retail App and log in.
   
2. Tap the Stock Management tile followed by the Stocktake tile.
   
3. Users will be prompted to start a new stocktake. Select Yes to continue.
   
   1. If there are other stocktakes currently present, tap on the list of open stocktakes to continue.
      
   2. Otherwise if you wish to start a stocktake for a different location or SKU group, tap on the Start Stocktake button to continue.
4. If starting a new stocktake, you will need to select a location to begin a stocktake on. Upon tapping on the location, the stocktake will be created and you will be brought to open stocktake.
   

Performing Multiple Cycle Counts

Once a user has started the stocktake, other handhelds are able to open the stocktake and contribute their scans to the same stocktake. Based on whether Blind Stocktakes are enabled for your device, you will be presented with different information on the screen.

To perform a cycle count, follow these steps:

1. Tap on the Cycle Count button to continue.
   
2. Based on whether Blind Stocktakes is enabled or not, users will be presented with two different screens to assist with scanning.
   1. If Blind Stocktakes is OFF, users will be counting down from an inventory position and will display the remaining number of items left that need to be scanned.
      
   2. If Blind Stocktakes is ON, users will be performing a blind count from an unknown inventory position and will be counting up their stock inventory from zero.
      
      
      
3. To start scanning RFID tags, tap the trigger quickly and the RFID handheld will begin scanning. The RFID handheld will play a starting tone and a green reading indicator will appear on the screen.
   
   
   1. Whilst scanning, you can adjust the power level of the RFID reader by either tapping High Power or Low Power.
      
      
   2. During the count, the RFID reader will emit a beeping sound for each new RFID tag is scans. As such, you can use it as an audible indicator on whether you have successfully scanned all the RFID tags within a given area. 
4. To stop scanning RFID tags, tap the trigger quickly and the RFID handheld will stop scanning. The RFID handheld will play a stopping tone and the green reading indicator will disappear.
5. To save your current scan to the stocktake, tap the Upload button. You will be prompted to confirm that you have finished the current cycle count. Tap Yes to continue.
   

Upon the submission of the cycle count, you will be returned to the main home screen whilst the server is processing your upload. During this time, other user can submit their cycle counts as well to be processed by the server.

As part of the processing, several things will occur:

• Any RFID tags that are known and match our database will be accepted against the stocktake.
• Any RFID tags that are unknown and do not match our database will be discarded.
• Any RFID tags that have been scanned before on a previous cycle count will be filtered out as having been already scanned.

As such, the count that was seen during the scan may not reflect the final count that is recorded during the stocktake.

Continuing a Stocktake

Once the server has processed a cycle count, users can return to the stocktake to either continue scanning or complete the stocktake. However, users should only open the stocktake once the previous uploads have all been processed. You can determine if it has completed processing by the stocktake notification, or if the status of the stocktake is In Progress.

To check the status, navigate to Stock Management > Stocktake and view the stocktake status listed underneath the stocktake. If it is In Progress, tap on the open stocktake to continue.

From this page, the cumulative scanned counts will be presented for you to review. From this point, you can choose to either perform additional cycle counts, or complete the stocktake.

Completing the Stocktake

To complete a stocktake, users can do so from the portal or from the handheld device. This article is focused around doing so from the handheld device.

To complete a stocktake:

1. Return to the open stocktake that you wish to complete and close.
2. To complete the stocktake, tap on the Complete button located at the bottom of the screen. A prompt will appear asking you to confirm if you have completed the stocktake. Tap Yes to continue.