When we read inventory values in Retail Orbit, for many POS Systems we only capture them for the current day. If you are uploading data for previous months, the inventory values will show as 0.

To address this, we use a process called backdating, which calculates the inventory you should have had based on the transactional data we receive from your system.

If we receive complete and accurate data from your system, these calculations will be precise. However, if data is missing or incomplete, such as receiving records, the backdated inventory values will appear artificially high.

Example:

1. Inventory at the end of February: $100,000

2. Sales in February: $23,000

3. Receiving in February: $0

When we backdate this information, we calculate that there must have been $123,000 in inventory at the end of January to support February's sales. This leads to an inflated backdated inventory value.

How to Prevent High Backdated Inventories:

1. Ensure Complete Receiving Data: Always record receiving accurately and promptly.

2. Follow Best Practices for Your POS System: Confirm that your point of sale system is properly configured and updated.

3. Use Data Validation Reports: Regularly check for missing data using the Data Validation Report in Retail Orbit.

By maintaining accurate records and ensuring all transactional data is uploaded correctly, you can reduce discrepancies and maintain precise inventory tracking.