Case Study Overview
Several years ago, under a previous company with the same ownership, a unified mobile inventory audit system was implemented for BENCH and Penshoppe. The project focused on improving inventory accuracy, standardizing audit execution, and establishing clearer handling of inventory discrepancies across all retail locations.
This case study is presented as part of a professional portfolio and reflects the actual scope of the implementation delivered at the time.
Business and Operational Context
BENCH and Penshoppe operate large retail networks with high product turnover and frequent stock movement. Prior to the implementation, inventory audits were conducted manually and varied significantly between stores. This resulted in:
- Inconsistent audit procedures and reporting
- Delayed detection of missing or mismatched items
- Limited visibility into audit results at the head office level
- Challenges in enforcing consistent accountability for inventory variances
As store operations scaled, these limitations increased operational overhead and reduced confidence in inventory data.
Project Objectives
The project aimed to:
- Standardize inventory audit processes across all stores
- Improve the accuracy of physical stock validation
- Detect discrepancies between system records and actual store inventory
- Introduce a structured review process for audit findings
- Provide centralized visibility into audit outcomes
The solution needed to be practical for store-level staff while supporting centralized oversight.
Solution Implementation
A single mobile inventory audit application was deployed across all BENCH and Penshoppe locations. Both brands used the same core system, ensuring consistency in audit execution while operating under a shared governance model.
Core Capabilities
- Mobile-based inventory audits
- Store personnel performed audits using mobile devices, scanning items directly on the sales floor.
- Automated inventory matching
- Scanned items were automatically compared against system records to identify missing, excess, or mismatched inventory.
- Discrepancy reporting
- Any variance identified during audits was recorded and submitted for review using a standardized process.
- Review and accountability workflow
- Audit findings were reviewed by designated personnel, enabling follow-up actions and internal accountability based on company policy.
- Centralized reporting and visibility
- Audit data from all stores was consolidated into a central system, allowing management teams to monitor audit status and recurring issues across locations.
Outcomes and Observations
Following implementation, both BENCH and Penshoppe observed:
- More consistent audit execution across stores
- Improved accuracy and reliability of inventory records
- Faster identification of inventory discrepancies
- Better visibility into store-level audit results
- Reduced dependence on manual audit documentation
The shared implementation also simplified system management by eliminating the need for separate audit tools per brand.
Result
This project reflects hands-on experience in delivering a standardized, multi-brand retail inventory audit system. Although implemented several years ago under a previous company, it represents a practical example of building scalable operational tools that support consistency, accuracy, and centralized oversight.
