Blog

Get expert insights on optimising inventory

Check out our library of resources for optimising inventory, written by 25+ years experienced supply chain pros

September 29, 2025
10 min read
Stockouts happen when demand outpaces supply, leaving businesses unable to meet customer needs. They lead to lost sales, frustrated customers, and costly operational inefficiencies. This blog explains the most common causes of stockouts and outlines practical strategies to prevent them, from accurate forecasting and supplier collaboration to maintaining safety stock and using automation. With AGR, you can take control of your inventory, reduce shortages, and keep your customers satisfied.
September 29, 2025
10 min read
Understanding lead time is key to building a faster, more resilient supply chain. This blog explains what lead time means, the different types that affect operations, and the factors that can cause delays. It also shows how lead time impacts inventory, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. Finally, it explores strategies and tools, including AGR’s lead time analysis and supplier data centralisation, to help you reduce risk and improve efficiency.
September 25, 2025
11 min read
Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) is the smallest number of units a supplier will sell in one order. It affects everything from production costs and cash flow to inventory planning and customer satisfaction. This guide explains the meaning of MOQ, why suppliers use it, and how businesses can manage it effectively.
September 8, 2025
5 min read
Discover the 10 key types of bills of materials (BOMs) and why they matter for product design, manufacturing, and inventory control. Learn how single-level and multi-level BOMs compare, and see how AGR helps streamline BOM management across your supply chain.
September 2, 2025
9 min read
Track it. Improve it. Turn inventory into revenue. Understanding your inventory turnover ratio helps you identify slow-moving stock, free up capital, and boost supply chain performance. In this guide, we break down the formula, benchmarks by industry, and how AGR helps you track turnover in real time via Power BI or your own custom dashboard.
August 15, 2025
14 min read
Inventory Management: A Complete Guide for Smarter Stock Control Looking to understand how to run leaner, smarter inventory operations? This in-depth guide covers everything from raw materials and BOMs to reorder points and reporting. Learn the key methods, tools, and strategies that power modern inventory planning—plus how to integrate forecasting, warehouse flows, and vendor coordination for maximum efficiency.
July 17, 2025
13 min read
Deadstock isn’t just unsold inventory — it’s a silent profit killer. This in-depth guide explains what deadstock is, why it happens in wholesale environments, and how to prevent it through smarter forecasting, better SKU management, and supply chain automation. Includes examples, formulas, and visuals to help your team take action.
July 17, 2025
8 min read
Understanding SKUs is fundamental to managing inventory with accuracy and control. In this blog, we break down what a SKU is, how it differs from a UPC, and why it matters whether you're tracking 50 products or 5,000. Learn how to use SKUs to improve forecasting, optimise your warehouse, and integrate seamlessly with your demand planning tools.
July 14, 2025
4 min read
Supplier closures don’t have to disrupt your operations. Learn five practical ways to manage them with smarter inventory planning—so you can stay in control year-round.
June 11, 2025
5 min read
Lead times are more than estimates; they are commitments that shape your supply chain’s success. In this post, we explore how lead time analysis uncovers the gap between promised and actual delivery times, strengthens supplier relationships, and helps you hit key KPIs with confidence. Learn how the right tools turn data into accountability and better performance.
May 12, 2025
5 min read
Many supply chain teams rely on scattered spreadsheets and emails to track supplier information, leading to outdated lead times and missed opportunities. This blog explores how fragmented vendor data silently disrupts planning, creates inefficiencies, and makes supplier relationships harder to manage. It shows how centralizing supplier performance tracking—especially around lead times—can transform daily operations from reactive to strategic. Plus, it offers a free Vendor Data Checklist to help teams get started with the right data in one place.
April 10, 2025
5 min read
Sustainability in the supply chain isn’t just about being green—it’s about reducing waste in all forms: time, space, money, and products. The root cause of much of that waste? Disconnected or inaccurate inventory and supply chain data. When data is centralized and reliable, businesses can forecast more accurately, automate smarter decisions, and avoid costly mistakes. The result is a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable operation—one that’s built for long-term growth.
April 1, 2025
4 min read
Strong supplier relationships are built on more than just communication—they rely on data. From accurate lead times to fulfillment rates and future purchase forecasts, the right information can transform how you collaborate with vendors. In this blog, we break down the key supplier data your business needs to reduce risk, negotiate better, and streamline purchasing decisions.
March 27, 2025
3 min read
Centralizing inventory data into a single, reliable source—like an ERP system—reduces errors, improves visibility, and streamlines decision-making. When paired with advanced inventory management software, businesses can automate processes, improve forecasting, and boost efficiency. In today’s unpredictable environment, accurate, accessible data isn’t just helpful—it’s a strategic advantage.
March 20, 2025
5 min read
Whether you’re new to logistics or a veteran, safety stock is an important concept that many people can be confused about. As a simple explanation, safety stock is an extra amount of stock that is maintained to mitigrate a risk of stockout. That is all well and good, but how is safety stock calculated in order to prevent a stockout? The answer to that is affected by a number of different variables: How predictable is the product in sales? How well is the forecast model fitted? What is the lead time? What is the forecast for the item? What is the confidence level and set service level? That may see like a lot, but all of these factors will affect an item’s safety stock.
March 7, 2025
4 min read
If your supply chain isn’t data-driven, you’re making costly mistakes—stockouts, overstock, unreliable suppliers, and lost customers. Without accurate data, you’re operating blindly, wasting money, and falling behind competitors who are optimizing their operations. This blog breaks down seven critical ways poor data is hurting your business—and how you can fix it before it’s too late.
February 11, 2025
4 min read
Tariffs are reshaping global trade, prompting businesses to rethink sourcing strategies and optimize their supply chains. This blog explores how companies can navigate these challenges, leveraging AGR's advanced inventory management solutions to build resilient and cost-effective operations. Discover actionable insights on managing disruptions, rising costs, and the power of AI-driven decision-making.
January 22, 2025
2 min read
Discover how AGR, a leading provider of inventory management software, revolutionized supply chain operations in 2024. Our retrospective highlights key innovations, including multi-location inventory optimization, advanced forecasting, and automated order scheduling. Learn how these developments simplify complex processes, reduce waste, and empower smarter decision-making for wholesalers and retailers.
November 11, 2024
6 min read
Discover how AGR’s inventory management solution bridges the gaps left by traditional ERPs, bringing advanced forecasting, automated ordering, and real-time insights to your supply chain—all up and running in as little as a week.
October 22, 2024
6 min read
When choosing the right stock management solution, it’s important to focus on more than just its basic features. You need a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, offers modular features to fit your specific needs, and can grow with you as your business evolves.
October 22, 2024
2 min read
AGR is a leading provider of inventory management software, offering a range of tools designed to optimize supply chain processes and enhance business performance. Headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, AGR has been empowering companies globally with innovative solutions tailored to their unique needs.
October 15, 2024
5 min read
No more manually placing orders each time your stock runs low. With OrderPro, you can set up recurring orders for specific suppliers or internal locations on the days that work best for you. Whether it’s store replenishment or supplier orders, you choose the location, the items, and the schedule, and OrderPro takes care of the rest.
October 15, 2024
5 min read
PlanPro offers powerful features for sales forecasting, promotional planning, and connecting item histories—all designed to help you manage your inventory with greater precision and control.
October 15, 2024
6 min read
You don’t need to be a data scientist to use it—Inventory IQ does the heavy lifting for you.

Subscribe to our newsletter today!

By completing and submitting the form, you will receive information, tips, and promotions from AGR. To learn more about how AGR uses your information, see our Privacy Policy.