Effective stock management is crucial for businesses that handle inventory, supply chain, or warehousing operations. Proper stock movement tracking ensures accurate inventory levels, reduces errors, and improves operational efficiency.

With Dolibarr ERP & CRM, companies can efficiently track stock movements, automate inventory updates, and generate reports to optimize supply chain performance. In this article, we will explore the best practices for tracking stock movements using Dolibarr and how to maximize its potential for better inventory control.

1. Why Is Tracking Stock Movements Important?

Inventory is one of the most valuable assets of a business, and inefficient stock tracking can lead to overstocking, shortages, and financial losses. Proper stock movement tracking provides several key benefits:

✔ Improved inventory accuracy – Reduce discrepancies and avoid stock mismanagement.
✔ Optimized order fulfillment – Ensure customers receive their products on time.
✔ Better forecasting and planning – Predict demand based on stock movement trends.
✔ Reduced losses and theft prevention – Keep a clear record of stock movements.
✔ Automated restocking – Set up automated alerts when stock reaches a critical level.

Using Dolibarr’s stock movement features, businesses can manage their inventory more effectively and reduce manual errors.

2. Understanding Stock Movements in Dolibarr

Dolibarr allows businesses to track stock movements in real-time, ensuring that every incoming and outgoing product is recorded correctly. The main types of stock movements in Dolibarr include:

  • Stock Increase (Inbound Movements): When products are received from suppliers or returned by customers.
  • Stock Decrease (Outbound Movements): When items are shipped to customers or removed due to damage.
  • Internal Stock Movements: Transferring inventory between warehouses or storage locations.

Dolibarr provides a clear inventory log where users can check all stock transactions, filter by date, supplier, warehouse, or product category, and ensure accurate stock levels.

3. Setting Up Stock Tracking in Dolibarr

Before tracking stock movements, businesses should configure their inventory settings in Dolibarr properly.

3.1 Activating the Stock Module

To enable inventory management in Dolibarr, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Setup > Modules/Applications.
    Activate the Stock Module to enable inventory tracking.
  2. Configure settings such as default warehouse, stock alerts, and automatic updates.
  3. 3.2 Defining Warehouses and Locations

Dolibarr allows companies to manage multiple warehouses and storage locations. To set them up:

  • Navigate to Stock > Warehouses.
  • Click Add New Warehouse and specify the location.
  • Assign products to specific warehouses for better tracking.

This setup ensures that stock movements are properly recorded per warehouse and prevents misallocation.

4. Recording Stock Movements in Dolibarr

4.1 Stock Reception (Inbound Movements)

When receiving goods from suppliers, it is essential to log them correctly into the system.

✔ Navigate to Stock > Stock Movements > New Stock Entry.
✔ Select the supplier and product details.
✔ Indicate the quantity received and assign it to a specific warehouse.
✔ Validate the stock entry to update inventory levels automatically.

This ensures that new stock is immediately available for sale or production.

4.2 Stock Dispatch (Outbound Movements)

Whenever products leave the warehouse, a stock reduction entry should be recorded.

✔ Navigate to Stock > Stock Movements > New Stock Exit.
✔ Select the customer or order reference.
✔ Enter the quantity dispatched and update the status.
✔ Validate the movement to deduct stock automatically.

By following this process, companies can prevent inventory discrepancies and keep their records up to date.

4.3 Internal Stock Transfers

If stock needs to be moved between warehouses, Dolibarr offers an easy way to record it.

✔ Go to Stock > Stock Transfers.
✔ Select the origin warehouse and destination warehouse.
✔ Choose the products and quantities to transfer.
✔ Validate the movement to ensure the update is reflected.

This method avoids stock mix-ups and helps businesses track inventory across multiple locations.

5. Automating Stock Movement Tracking in Dolibarr

Dolibarr includes automation features to simplify stock movement tracking and reduce manual work.

5.1 Automatic Stock Updates from Sales and Purchases

Dolibarr allows inventory updates to be linked directly to sales orders and supplier purchases.

  • Sales Order Processing: When an invoice or shipment is validated, Dolibarr automatically deducts stock.
  • Purchase Order Processing: Once a supplier delivery is confirmed, the system updates stock levels.

This automation eliminates manual stock adjustments and reduces human errors.

5.2 Setting Up Stock Alerts

Dolibarr enables users to configure low-stock alerts to prevent running out of critical inventory.

✔ Go to Stock > Products and set a minimum stock level per product.
✔ Enable email notifications to receive alerts when stock reaches the threshold.
✔ Automatically generate purchase orders when stock is low.

These alerts help businesses avoid stock shortages and ensure uninterrupted operations.

6. Analyzing Stock Movements and Generating Reports

Dolibarr provides powerful reporting tools to help businesses analyze stock movements and make data-driven decisions.

6.1 Stock Movement Reports

Users can generate detailed reports showing:

✔ Products with the highest stock turnover.
✔ Slow-moving stock that needs better planning.
✔ Stock discrepancies and corrections.
✔ Warehouse-specific inventory levels.

These insights help businesses optimize inventory and improve procurement strategies.

6.2 Integrating Stock Data with Accounting

Dolibarr allows inventory data to be integrated with the accounting module.

  • Automatically log inventory valuation in financial records.
  • Link stock adjustments with financial audits.
  • Ensure that stock costs are accurately reflected in profit and loss reports.

By integrating stock data with accounting, businesses can better track their financial health and reduce stock-related losses.

7. Best Practices for Effective Stock Movement Tracking

To maximize the efficiency of Dolibarr’s stock management module, businesses should follow these best practices:

✔ Regular stock audits – Conduct periodic physical inventory checks.
✔ Train staff – Ensure employees understand how to use Dolibarr for stock movements.
✔ Use barcode scanning – Improve accuracy by integrating barcode scanners with Dolibarr.
✔ Set reorder points – Automate restocking to maintain optimal inventory levels.
✔ Monitor supplier performance – Track delivery times and stock quality to optimize purchasing decisions.

Implementing these practices ensures smooth inventory management and minimizes operational risks.

Conclusion

Tracking stock movements is essential for improving inventory control, reducing costs, and optimizing business operations. With Dolibarr’s stock management features, businesses can automate inventory tracking, manage warehouses efficiently, and generate insightful reports.

By following best practices and utilizing Dolibarr’s automation tools, companies can ensure accurate stock tracking and seamless inventory management.