Inventory Management Examples - Inspiration & Best Practices

Effective inventory management is the key to profitability for businesses that sell or process physical products. Too much stock ties up capital, while too little leads to missed sales and unhappy customers. Modern inventory management systems provide real-time visibility into stock levels, automate ordering processes, and predict future demand using data analysis. Here we showcase concrete examples of businesses that have taken their inventory management to the next level.

Automated warehouse management for a wholesaler

A technical wholesaler implemented a custom warehouse management system combining barcode scanners, pick lists, and location management. Staff receive optimised walking routes on their handheld devices, reducing pick time per order by 40%. The system manages over 50,000 SKUs across three warehouses and synchronises in real time with their ERP for continuously accurate stock data.

• Barcode scanning with handhelds for error-free order picking
• Optimised walking routes reducing pick time by 40%
• Multi-warehouse management with cross-docking support
• Real-time ERP synchronisation for accurate stock levels

Multi-location inventory for a retail chain

A retail chain with 25 stores had a central inventory management system built that shows stock levels across all locations in real time. The system automates inter-store transfers when a location falls below minimum stock and another has surplus. Predictive algorithms automatically recognise seasonal patterns and proactively adjust orders to optimise stock distribution.

• Central overview of inventory across all 25 locations
• Automated inter-store transfers for stock rebalancing
• Demand forecasting based on seasonal patterns and trends
• Automatic reorder suggestions when minimum levels are reached

E-commerce inventory with channel integration

An e-commerce company selling through their own webshop, Amazon, and eBay implemented a central inventory system synchronising stock across all channels. The system prevents overselling through real-time inventory updates to all sales channels and automatically reserves stock for incoming orders. Returns are automatically processed and items made available again for sale.

• Multichannel inventory synchronisation in real time
• Automatic stock reservation upon order receipt
• Returns processing with automatic restocking
• Integration with Amazon, eBay, and own webshop via APIs

Pharmaceutical inventory with batch tracking

A pharmaceutical distributor built an inventory system with full batch tracking and expiry date management. The system tracks every product from receipt to delivery and automatically alerts when products approach their expiry date. In case of a recall, it takes seconds to identify which customers received a specific batch thanks to end-to-end traceability across the supply chain.

• Full batch tracking from receipt to delivery
• Automatic alerts for approaching expiry dates
• FIFO and FEFO picking strategies for pharmaceutical products
• Recall management with instant batch traceability

Key takeaways

• Real-time inventory visibility across all locations and channels prevents both surpluses and shortages.
• Demand forecasting based on historical data and seasonal patterns significantly optimises order volumes.
• Batch tracking and traceability are essential for sectors with compliance requirements such as pharmaceuticals and food.
• Multichannel synchronisation is indispensable for e-commerce businesses selling across multiple platforms.
• Optimised warehouse processes with barcode scanners and walking routes increase staff productivity.

How MG Software can help

MG Software builds custom inventory management systems that seamlessly integrate with your existing ERP, webshop, and sales channels. From simple stock tracking to advanced warehouse management with batch tracking and demand forecasting — we develop solutions that fit your logistics processes and growth ambitions.