Plain-language questions
Ask for inventory accuracy per month, customer or product in the SQL Explorer with AI. The AI writes the SQL, you see the query and run it yourself; the AI only receives metadata.
KPI · Inventory, purchasing and production
Inventory accuracy: formula and example.
Inventory accuracy is the percentage of counted product locations where the stock in your system matches what is physically on the shelf. You measure it through cycle counts or the annual stocktake. If system stock is wrong, replenishment suggestions, delivery promises and stock valuation are wrong too.
Inventory accuracy formula
Counted lines where system and count agree ÷ total counted lines × 100%
Worked example
During its May 2026 cycle count Acme Groothandel counted 600 product locations. At 558 of them the system stock matched the count. Inventory accuracy is 558 ÷ 600 × 100% = 93.0%.
Fictitious figures for Acme Groothandel, a sample wholesaler.
How to read this KPI
A higher percentage means you can rely more on system stock. Alongside the percentage, look at the size of the differences in units and value, because a variance of one unit is not the same as a missing pallet. Compare by warehouse, zone or product group to see where errors start.
Pitfalls with inventory accuracy
- Counting only locations where you already suspect a problem, which drags the figure down.
- Applying a tolerance without recording it, so periods cannot be compared.
- Correcting variances without logging the cause, so the same error keeps coming back.
SQL & DAX
Calculating inventory accuracy in SQL and DAX
Two examples on a fictitious data warehouse for Acme Groothandel: a PostgreSQL query and a measure for a Power BI model. Adjust table and column names to your own model.
SELECT date_trunc('month', snapshot_date) AS month,
COUNT(*) AS counted_lines,
COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE counted_quantity = quantity) AS correct_lines,
ROUND(100.0 * COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE counted_quantity = quantity)
/ NULLIF(COUNT(*), 0), 1) AS inventory_accuracy_pct
FROM stock_levels
WHERE counted_quantity IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY 1
ORDER BY 1;Counted Lines = CALCULATE(COUNTROWS(Stock), NOT ISBLANK(Stock[CountedQuantity]))
Inventory Accuracy = DIVIDE(COUNTROWS(FILTER(Stock, NOT ISBLANK(Stock[CountedQuantity]) && Stock[CountedQuantity] = Stock[Quantity])), [Counted Lines])In ENABLE
Tracking this KPI in ENABLE
In your Power BI dashboard
Define the KPI as a measure in your Power BI model and show it in the portal, with "Last refreshed" next to it. Access profiles and optional row-level security decide who sees which figures.
Custom dashboards (pilot)
Add the KPI as a tile to a custom dashboard, compared with last year. The Dashboard Builder is a pilot and can be switched on per client.
Monthly targets
With the built-in Targets app you set a target for the KPI per month, so you see actuals and target side by side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate inventory accuracy?
Count a sample or all product locations and compare the counted quantity with system stock. Divide the number of lines with no variance by the total number of lines counted. Decide in advance whether a small difference within a tolerance still counts as accurate.
What is cycle counting?
Cycle counting means counting part of your range on a rolling basis instead of everything once a year. Fast-moving or high-value items are counted more often than the rest. It keeps inventory accuracy visible all year without shutting the warehouse.
What causes inventory discrepancies?
Most discrepancies arise at goods-in, picking and returns: booked incorrectly, put away in the wrong location or not scanned. Damage that is never written off adds to it. Logging the cause with every adjustment shows you where the process needs fixing.
Further reading
- KPI libraryInventory and purchasing KPIs: formulasThese KPIs show how much cash is tied up in stock, how reliable suppliers are and how efficiently you produce. The data comes from your ERP, WMS and production records.Read more
- ResourcesHow to build a KPI dashboard: steps and examplesA KPI dashboard is an overview of the key figures you use to steer towards your goals, such as revenue, margin, on-time delivery or absenteeism. A good KPI dashboard does not start with the software, but with the decisions it needs to support. You then choose a limited number of KPIs, define them, sketch the dashboard and only then build it.Read more
- SolutionPower BI dashboard portal: share dashboards securelyShare your Power BI dashboards securely in your own portal, with role-based access.Read more
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