Managing inventory is a critical component for any aesthetic practice. With consumables used in treatments, skincare products to sell, and injectables with a high cost of goods sold, keeping track of it all is a must to protect your bottom line. Effective inventory tracking helps reduce shrinkage and ensures you never run out of the items you need to run your business.

It used to be that tracking inventory involved manually counting the items on your shelves at set intervals. While occasional manual counts can verify item accuracy, the manpower hours involved are too high to justify as your standard operating procedure. Inventory tracking is best done in real-time with automation at the point of sale (POS). To accomplish this, you’ll need a native or integrated inventory management tool with your POS system.

In this blog, we explore the challenges of inventory management in aesthetic practices and highlight four key features for streamlining the process. We’ll also show how Symplast’s integrated solutions can enhance efficiency and precision.

Challenges in Inventory Management

Aesthetic practices face several inventory challenges:

• Maintaining enough stock to meet patient needs without overstocking.
• Preventing product expiration.
• Ensuring each package component is available when needed.

Miscalculations in these areas can lead to financial losses and impact patient satisfaction. Offering treatment plans and service packages presents unique challenges if your POS system pulls inventory counts before a service is rendered. Additionally, aesthetic providers need to view historical trends of their inventory to stock shelves with precision. Comprehensive reporting on item sales is key to managing inventory levels with each season, promotion, and as a practice grows.

With all of these considerations in mind, there are four key features to make managing inventory frictionless:

1. Real-time inventory tracking
2. Dynamic reporting
3. Automated low-inventory alerts
4. Full integration of your POS and Inventory Management System with your EMR software

Real-time Inventory Tracking

Automating your inventory management begins with real-time tracking through your point of sale (POS) solution. As items are sold, they are auto-deducted from your inventory count on invoice. This eliminates the need to manually count your items on hand when it comes time to restock, saving countless manpower hours while reducing errors.

Symplast updates your stock levels in real time. This feature helps ensure that you’re aware of what is available and what is running low, helping you avoid both shortages and surplus.

Dynamic Reporting

Keeping your stock levels in check is all about utilizing comprehensive reporting. Your inventory reports should tell you what your stock levels are today and historically. Dynamic reporting allows you to quickly change variables on your report to see how your stock levels have changed over time, enabling you to project your inventory needs more accurately for specific periods, repeat promotions, and overall trends.

Symplast generates reports detailing which products are being used, linked to specific patient treatments. This data helps forecast future needs based on actual usage, crucial for maintaining the right inventory levels. From these comprehensive reports, you can track performance and usage, and identify trends for your clientele.

Automated Low-Inventory Alerts

A non-negotiable for improving inventory management is automated low-stock alerts. Your system should trigger a warning to an admin when you hit a minimum quantity on hand, so they can take action. This reduces the chance of hitting zero on an item and gives your inventory manager a heads-up that it’s time to create their next purchase order.

Integration with EMR Software

Simplicity is key in practice management. One of the easiest ways to streamline your business is to use an all-in-one EMR software that houses your scheduling and EHR needs and your POS workflows. When your POS is fully integrated with your EMR, you eliminate the additional expense and administrative burden of using a separate system.

Symplast reduces the time spent on manual inventory checks, allowing you to focus more on patient care. Automated processes prevent common mistakes and improve operational efficiency.

The Symplast Solution – How Symplast Addresses These Issues

Symplast is designed specifically for your aesthetic practice, integrating various features that tackle inventory challenges effectively. With Symplast, you can ensure consistent revenue streams through an established subscription model, boosting overall practice revenue. The user-friendly system ensures the entire patient journey, from booking to final package delivery, is smooth and hassle-free, encouraging repeat business from clients.

Symplast Payments allows you to manage all steps of the financial process in one place, making it easier to manage invoices, payments, and account balances. The Symplast Practice App helps you manage your time more effectively with comprehensive Online Appointment Requests and extensive Calendar Block capabilities.

With automated package tracking, you can rest easy knowing the software tracks it all for you, reducing the chance of user error. This leads to cost savings by minimizing waste and ensuring treatments are not delayed due to inventory shortages.

Conclusion

Good inventory management impacts both the bottom line and patient experience. Symplast offers a straightforward solution to help you manage inventory effectively, ensuring you have what you need without unnecessary surplus. Considering Symplast could be a beneficial step forward if your practice is looking to streamline its inventory processes and enhance its business operations.