What is the purpose of a cycle count in inventory management?

A cycle count in inventory management serves the purpose of conducting inventory audits on a cyclic schedule instead of performing a comprehensive audit once a year. This approach allows businesses to maintain accuracy in their inventory records throughout the year by counting a subset of inventory items regularly.

The continual process of cycle counting helps to identify discrepancies between the physical inventory and the records, thus enabling timely corrections. This method not only promotes accuracy but also minimizes disruption to normal operations, as its frequency allows for smaller, more manageable counts rather than a massive annual undertaking.

While updating the inventory system is an important aspect of inventory management, the core function of cycle counting focuses on the regular review through audits rather than maintaining real-time updates. Annual inventory value assessments are also important but are separate processes from the function of cycle counts. Eliminating the need for an inventory system contradicts the essence of cycle counts, as they rely on systematic tracking and record-keeping to be effective.