Make a plan for aging or expiring stock
Slow-moving inventory stays on a report without a next action.
For teams managing slow stock, lot dates or shelf-life restrictions.
What good looks like.
Each flagged quantity has an approved disposition or a dated review with an accountable owner.
- Starts when
- The weekly aging review flags a lot or receipt cohort.
- Accountable owner
- Inventory planner
Where AI could help.
AI could organize disposition options and summarize restrictions. Quality and finance approve suitability, markdowns and write-offs.
How the work could move.
A suggested process to adapt to your team. Each handoff needs a clear owner and a visible check.
Identify affected units
Planner
Record lot, receipt date, expiry, location, quantity and cost in an aging register.
Ready when: Dates come from lot or receipt evidence rather than SKU creation.
Compare options
Merchandising + quality
Assess sell-through, transfer, supplier return, donation and disposal against restrictions and likely recovery.
Ready when: Options state usable quantities, deadlines, costs and uncertainties.
Approve disposition
Finance + quality
Record the selected action, quantity, approval and execution owner.
Ready when: Commercial and product-suitability approvals cover the exact lot.
Verify execution
Inventory controller
Link markdown, transfer or disposal evidence and reconcile quantity and recovered value.
Ready when: Executed units reconcile; any balance has a next review date.
Explore the setup, checks, and exceptions
Start with your tools.
Start with a lot or receipt export and an options worksheet. Link quality restrictions and execution evidence in existing storage.
When things go wrong.
- Mixed expiry dates require separate lot decisions.
- Unknown expiry or a quality hold blocks suitability assumptions.
- A markdown that does not sell through needs a follow-up decision before expiry.
A useful first step.
Review one lot with two plausible options and compare documented recovery assumptions.
What to measure
Track aged inventory value, executed disposition quantity and realized recovery against the proposal.
Want this working with your team and tools?
Build it yourself, adapt what you already have, or work with us. We can help you choose where to start and handle the technical build.