1. Keep SKU Codes Consistent
Ensure every product has a unique SKU or product ID to prevent confusion and duplicate entries.
2. Use Separate Columns for Product Details
Keep product name, category, quantity, and price in separate columns for easier filtering and analysis.
3. Track Stock Levels
Maintain a quantity column and use formulas to calculate total stock and detect low inventory automatically.
=IF(C2<10,"Low Stock","In Stock")
4. Detect Duplicates
Use conditional formatting or formulas to highlight duplicate entries in your inventory.
=COUNTIF(A:A, A2)>1
5. Highlight Missing Data
Use formulas to flag missing critical information such as price or supplier.
=IF(ISBLANK(B2),"Missing Price","OK")
6. Automate Alerts
Use conditional formatting or Apps Script to get automatic alerts when stock is low or missing.
7. Record Inventory Changes
Maintain a log sheet to record all additions, removals, or updates for tracking and auditing purposes.
8. Use Data Validation
Restrict entries in columns like Category or Supplier to predefined lists to reduce errors.
9. Backup Regularly
Duplicate your Google Sheet periodically or enable version history to avoid data loss.
10. Leverage Multi-Color Highlighting
Use color codes to mark status such as low stock, discontinued, or new arrivals for faster visual checks.