Cycle counts and stocktakes

A count compares what’s physically on the shelf with what Fiddle says you have, then corrects the difference. A stocktake counts everything; a cycle count counts a small subset on a rolling schedule.

Start a count

1. Go to Inventory → Counts and click New count.
2. Choose a location and the items to include — a full stocktake, or a filtered subset for a cycle count.
3. Fiddle snapshots the current recorded quantities as the expected figures.

Enter counted quantities

1. Count the physical stock and enter the counted quantity for each item.
2. For lot- or serial-tracked items, count by lot or scan each serial.
3. Fiddle shows the variance — counted minus expected — for every line.

Column	Meaning
Expected	Quantity Fiddle had on record
Counted	Quantity you physically counted
Variance	Difference to be reconciled

Investigate large variances before you post. They often point to an unrecorded transfer, a miskeyed receipt, or a count error worth recounting.

Post the count

When you post, Fiddle adjusts on-hand quantities to match your counted figures and writes each change to the activity log. Posting is final, so review variances first.

Cycle counting a few items often beats one big annual stocktake — you keep selling while counting and catch errors sooner.

Next steps

Review the adjustments in the inventory activity log.