Boosting Efficiency with a Liquor Inventory App: A Complete Guide

Operations
Restaurant
Published on:
January 5, 2024
Read Time:
13
min

Keeping track of inventory can prove to be a difficult undertaking for both bar owners and management. Counting bottles, keeping track of stock levels, and obtaining fresh supplies can all take a lot of time and work. 

Taking inventory is not only demanding, but it also complicates the work of any bar or restaurant management. Fortunately, there are answers to this problem, and one of them is to download a bar inventory app.

If you're just starting as a bartender, you may be wondering, "How do I do a bar inventory?"

There are manual methods for using a bar inventory spreadsheet. However, this will take too much time out of your day and will almost certainly result in human mistakes. 

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The answer is simple: A liquor inventory app has the power that becomes evident when dealing with the delicate balance between increasing profits and potential losses.

Like any business, vigilance is required to counter challenges such as stock discrepancies, revenue leakages, and regulatory non-compliance.

What is A Liquor Inventory App?

A liquor inventory app is a digital solution developed to assist liquor shop owners in effectively managing and tracking inventory.

Because of the increased need for efficient and data-driven inventory management, these applications have grown in popularity.

The liquor industry, like many other businesses, is changing. With the advent of online sales and digital marketplaces, business owners are finding it more difficult to maintain track of stock levels and satisfy client needs.

Apps for liquor inventory come to the rescue. The best liquor inventory applications have comparable features and functionalities, such as:

  • Inventory counting across several devices
  • Measuring tools such as a virtual point count and slider, or a Bluetooth scale
  • Supplier invoicing and ordering is automated
  • Obtaining historical data

What’s Included in a Liquor Inventory?

Everything your bar stocks to serve customers and keep your bar tidy, from whiskey to bar glasses to olives to cleaning supplies, is referred to as bar liquor inventory. Here's a rundown of some of the items your bar is likely to stock:

Alcohol

Your bar might carry hundreds of different types of alcohol, ranging from popular wines to artisan brews to renowned whiskeys and top-shelf tequilas. 

Non-alcoholic Drinks

The ingredients that you use to make your liquor beverages are just as important as the booze.

You'll also need to develop a full list of non-alcoholic components, including tonic water, orange juice, citrus, olives, syrups, and herbs. Don't forget to think about additional beverages and snacks you may provide, such as coffee, soda, and mixed nuts.

Glassware

Shot glasses, shooters, pint glasses, goblets, highball glasses, lowball glasses, pint glasses, flutes etc.

The list of glassware available at your bar might go on and on. And, whether you stock a few varieties of glasses or dozens, it's critical to understand exactly what glassware your company needs to serve beverages the way it desires.

Cocktail Napkins and Paper Coasters

For example, are essential for servicing your clients. Cocktail shakers and strainers, for example, are essential for mixing cocktails. Consider what bar supplies your restaurant uses or will need on a nightly basis and put them in your list.

Inventory of MRO

MRO inventory is your inventory for maintenance, repair, and overhaul.

MRO includes the materials and equipment required for preventative and corrective maintenance. In the case of a bar, it's what you need to keep your beer taps open, your wine fridges chilled, and your establishment clean and welcoming. 

Cleaning supplies, maintenance tools, and even personal protective equipment (PPE) should all be on your list.

Capital Invested

You'll also need to keep track of long-term investments, or assets. This comprises everything your bar owns (but doesn't sell), such as bar furniture, artwork, light fixtures, point-of-sale equipment, espresso machines, and wine fridges. 

Even if they don't move, they are vital to manage since they are depreciating assets with tax consequences, and their value should reflect on your balance sheet.

The correct asset monitoring system can help you keep track of asset status and even manage important maintenance dates to help prolong the usable life of equipment and machinery such as dishwashers, faucets, and walk-in fridges.

Why Should You Use a Liquor Inventory App?

The advantages of employing bar inventory software are many. Here are a few reasons why you should use one:

  • Save Time - By utilizing bar inventory software, you can quickly and simply take inventory, minimizing the amount of time you spend physically counting bottles.
  • Minimize Waste - By utilizing products that will shortly expire and optimizing orders, you can reduce waste and save money with improved inventory management. 
  • Comprehensive Cataloging: To simplify monitoring and guarantee accurate inventory management, be sure that you carefully document information such as brand, type, size, and supplier for every bottle of liquor in your store.
  • Improve Accuracy - Bar inventory software can assist in decreasing the possibility of human mistakes and deliver more accurate inventory data.
  • Simplify Ordering - When your bar's inventory runs low, your app can alert you to restock supplies, streamlining the ordering procedure.
  • Real-time Inventory Tracking: Monitoring inventory in real-time, providing restaurant management with an insight into their stock levels and depletion rates in real-time. This understanding is necessary to make wise restocking selections.
  • Savings - By analyzing your inventory and ordering history, you can gain a better knowledge of your expenditures and find areas where you can save money.

How to Choose the Best Bar Inventory App 

Choosing the very best liquor inventory software can be a challenging task, particularly with the abundance of alternatives on the market. Consider the following aspects while selecting a bar inventory app:

Full Feature Utilization

Choosing the correct inventory software with the proper features can make a significant difference in the efficiency of your inventory management operation. Each app will have its unique set of features, however the following are some popular ones: 

  • Real-time inventory monitoring allows you to monitor inventory levels and determine when to make orders. 
  • Barcode scanning helps in the automation of the inventory management process, making it more efficient and speedier. 
  • Reporting and analytics can provide vital insights into the performance of your inventory, allowing you to make data-driven choices. 
  • Low inventory alerts might help you prevent stockouts and guarantee that you always have enough inventory.

Integration

When selecting a bar inventory software, keep integration features in mind to assist ease your inventory management process. 

Integration eliminates manual data input, saving you time and avoiding mistakes that can happen during manual data entry. You can develop a more unified and effective workflow that is easier to manage by linking several software platforms. 

When shopping for applications, make sure they can interact with other software systems, such as your POS system, accounting software, and online ordering platforms. 

Efficient Vendor Management

These tools ease the vendor management process by interfacing with your vendors. 

It enables easy communication, order placing, and dispute resolution, ensuring that you maintain healthy, productive relationships with your suppliers.

Implementing Liquor Inventory App in Restaurants

Moving from conventional liquor inventory management to a computerized system could completely change restaurant operations. The procedure requires serious planning and execution. 

Here's how to set up a liquor inventory app at your restaurant, step by step:

Identify The Pain Points 

Take stock of your processes and identify any bottlenecks or problem areas. Is there a problem with overstocking or understocking? Is the inventory often in error? Recognizing these concerns will help you choose the finest inventory software for your unique requirements.

Choose a Suitable Liquor Inventory App

After you've figured out what you need, look into several liquor inventory apps to see which one works best for your restaurant. 

Features like data analysis tools, automatic order administration, real-time inventory monitoring, and system compatibility should be high on your list of priorities.

Plan and Prepare for Implementation

Now that you have the app of your choice, it's time to set up the rollout. Dedicate the required assets and establish reasonable deadlines for the integration. 

At this stage, you may need to arrange with the app developer in particular, get your current inventory data ready for the change, and set up any necessary hardware.

Train Staff 

Proper training is essential to ensure a smooth acceptance of change since staff members may feel overwhelmed by it. 

Educate users thoroughly on the app's features and functionality, and make yourself available to address any issues that may arise. More precision and productivity will result from making sure the software is easy to use for everyone.

Evaluate the Effectiveness of the App 

It is critical to consistently monitor and assess the system's performance after implementation. To find out how well the software is doing and where it may need some work, use its analytics tool.

Choose Xenia: The Best Liquor Inventory App for Your Restaurant

How to Create a Robust Food Safety Culture in Your Restaurant

Xenia is an easy-to-use and free solution for keeping track of your bar's inventory.

Without adding any needless complication, the software enables you perform all your inventory management without any hassle. 

Make purchase orders, obtain automated reports, and efficiently monitor items—all without paper, spreadsheets, or monthly fees.

Everything from your barware to your beer, liquor, and wine can be easily organized and monitored. This contains details like the usual quantity of each item, the size and pricing of the bottles, and more.

Xenia just may be the best option for you if you're looking for a simple approach to get started or switch from manual to automated counting.

Automatic Temperature Monitoring

Xenia's temperature management system, utilizing Bluetooth and LoRaWAN-enabled sensors, ensures precise monitoring of liquor storage environments, maintaining a temperature range between 40°C to 125°C with an accuracy of +/- 0.4°C. 

Designed for continuous operation, the system promptly notifies management of any deviations from the predetermined acceptable range, allowing swift intervention to safeguard the quality and integrity of stored liquor.

Insightful Data Analysis and Reporting

Xenia doesn't just manage your inventory; it equips you with robust data analysis tools and reporting capabilities.

These tools allow you to understand critical business metrics such as sales trends, popular items, and customer preferences, leading to more strategic decision-making. By turning raw data into actionable insights, Xenia helps to drive operational efficiency and business profitability.

Smart Inspection Workflows

Xenia's operations template builder empowers liquor inventory management through integrated conditional logic at each step. With this feature, the system can automatically trigger actions based on form responses, streamlining processes such as liquor replenishment. 

For instance, it can generate corrective actions in response to failed inspection steps, ensuring product quality.

Standardized Processes & Accountability

Xenia revolutionizes liquor inventory management by providing a comprehensive solution for standardized processes and accountability.

With the ability to construct customized checklists, SOPs, inspections, and log books, users can seamlessly integrate these tools into their inventory workflow. 

These resources, when attached to specific tasks and work orders, not only clarify work expectations but also enable the collection of vital data, including photos, notes, time stamps, and more.

Transform Your Business with Xenia’s Liquor Inventory App Now!

Xenia is a game-changing software that will alter the way your restaurant handles its liquor inventory. With Xenia's solution, you can see your inventory in real-time, automate repetitive tasks, and have access to analytical information.

Think of all the ways a streamlined process can enhance morale on the job and satisfy customers.

Maximize your revenue by minimizing waste and restocking just in time. Protect your company's credibility and bottom line by maintaining correct and current records under local liquor regulations

Book a free Demo and discover the countless opportunities to managing food safety operations with Xenia, today!

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