What's the Difference? A Quick Overview
When you add new items to the system, you'll need to make a key choice: should you track an item as Standard or Serialized?
At its core, the difference is about how you handle inventory management and track quantity. This article will help you understand this important distinction and decide which is right for your business and how Digit supports effective use of each one.
Standard Inventory (By the numbers)
Standard inventory is ideal for tracking a collective quantity of identical items, like a bucket of screws or a case of tennis balls. When you receive more of these items, the new quantity is simply added to the existing total for that location. This approach works best for low-value, bulk, or interchangeable goods where tracking each individual piece isn't necessary.
Serialized Inventory (One-of-a-kind or by lot)
Serialized inventory assigns a unique identifier, such as a serial number or a unique barcode, to each item. This allows for granular inventory tracking and gives you detailed visibility into each specific item in stock. This is ideal for high-value items where traceability is critical, or for items that must be tracked in batches. For a food and beverage business, this could be a pallet of ingredients received from the same vendor on the same day for compliance reasons.
🌱 Selecting the right inventory tracking method is a crucial step that can significantly impact your business's efficiency, accuracy, and overall profitability.
Choosing between standard and serialized inventory isn't just a technical decision—it's a strategic one that can either streamline your operations or create unnecessary work.
How to Decide Which to Use
This decision is made on a per-item basis when you're creating a new item in your inventory management software. A simple question to guide your decision is: "Do I need to track this item individually, or is the total quantity sufficient?"
Choose Serialized if...
You need to track an item's specific warranty, repair history, or expiration date.
The item is high-value, like a piece of machinery or an electronic device.
Your industry requires strict batch tracking for compliance, such as in food and beverage manufacturing.
Choose Standard if...
The items are interchangeable (one is just like another).
The items are low-cost, like components for a larger product.
You receive, store, and sell items in bulk, and only need to know the total count in each location.
Feature | Standard Inventory | Serialized Inventory |
Tracking Level | By total quantity in a location | By unique item or batch/lot |
Best For | Bulk, low-value, interchangeable goods | High-value, unique, or regulated items/batches |
Inventory View | Bins view is primary | Labels view is primary |
Key Difference | Moving affects quantity | Moving affects the entire label by default, but can be split |
⚠️ Choose Wisely
Once you create an item as Standard or Serialized in Digit, you can't change it later.
This is because the system links all of your inventory and transaction history to that specific tracking method. If you need to switch, you'll have to create a new item with the correct tracking type.
Managing Standard and Serialized Inventory in Digit
When you create a new item in Digit, you'll select whether it's "standard" or "serialized."
Managing Standard Items
For standard items, your primary view for operations management will be the Bins view, which shows you the quantity of each item in a specific bin location. You can adjust the quantity directly from here or the item's inventory tab. Since standard items don't have individual labels, they won't appear on the main Labels screen. To move a standard item, you can select a specific quantity to transfer between locations.
Managing Serialized Items
When you add a serialized item to your inventory, the system creates a unique "label ID" for it. This label represents a single item or a specific batch and can be printed with a unique barcode or QR code for easy scanning. This is your key to full inventory traceability.
When moving serialized inventory, the default action is to move the entire label at once. However, Digit also supports splitting a serialized label, which allows you to move a partial quantity from a larger container or lot if needed. The system retains full traceability data for both the partial quantity moved and the remaining stock. This is also true during picking for manufacturing orders or shipping, where you can pick a partial quantity from a serialized label while maintaining all traceability.
Video Walkthrough
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Summary
Using Standard Inventory simplifies management for high-volume, low-value items. It reduces the overhead of data entry and tracking, allowing you to focus on the overall quantity of stock without getting bogged down in individual details. This is a powerful choice for maintaining efficient workflows and reducing costs for the right type of product. With Digit, you can manage your inventory using a clear Bins view that provides real-time visibility into quantities at each location.
Using Serialized Inventory offers a "superpower" for businesses that need granular visibility and control over their stock. This method enhances accuracy by eliminating manual counting errors and providing a precise record of every item's movement. With Digit, serialized tracking allows you to:
Improve inventory management by knowing the exact composition of your stock and optimizing levels to avoid costly stockouts or overstocking.
Strengthen your supply chain by tracking products from manufacturing to final sale, helping you pinpoint bottlenecks and streamline processes.
Protect your brand by preventing fraud and enabling targeted, efficient product recalls, which can save time and money.
Boost customer satisfaction by providing faster support, accurate delivery updates, and simplified returns, building trust and loyalty.
Ultimately, the right choice for your inventory tracking process depends on the specific needs of your products and business model. Making a smart choice here can turn hidden costs from manual tracking into real savings and operational strengths, and Digit provides the tools to manage either approach with ease.