Batches and use-by dates
Expiry date management that catches stock before it dates out
Every intake is a batch with a number and an expiry date. Batches rotate oldest-first, and OPZAIQ counts down the days left so short-dated stock becomes a decision instead of a write-off.
Why expiry is a retail operations problem
Anything with a use-by date — supplements, protein, food, cosmetics, sports nutrition — quietly loses value as it ages. The loss is rarely discovered while it can still be sold. It is found during a stocktake, in a carton at the back, weeks after the date passed.
Batch-level tracking changes the timing. Because each intake carries its own expiry date, OPZAIQ can show what is inside 30, 14 or 7 days of expiry today, per store, and by the line it affects.
Rotation that does not depend on memory
Stock is drawn from the oldest open batch first, so the shelf rotates the way the stock record says it does. When a batch cannot be moved in time, it is written off against that batch, which keeps the loss attributable rather than absorbed into a vague shrinkage figure.
| What it handles | How it works |
|---|---|
| Batch numbers | Each intake recorded with its own batch reference against the stock line. |
| Expiry dates | A use-by date per batch, not per product, so mixed-age stock stays distinguishable. |
| Days-left countdown | How long each batch has, sorted so the most urgent is first. |
| Oldest-first rotation | Stock is drawn from the oldest batch, keeping rotation consistent between staff. |
| Write-off by batch | Expired stock written off against its batch so the loss is traceable to an intake. |
| Group expiry view | Short-dated stock visible across every store for transfers and promotions. |
Turning short-dated stock into a plan
A countdown is only useful if someone acts on it. Short-dated lines appear in the store's own view and in the group summary, so a manager can discount, sample or transfer while there is still time, and head office can see which sites repeatedly over-order the same line.
Common questions
Can one product have several expiry dates at once?
Yes. That is the point of batches: a line can hold several intakes with different use-by dates, and each is tracked separately.
Does it warn me before stock expires?
Short-dated batches surface as a countdown in the store view and in the weekly summary, so they are visible while there is still time to sell, sample or transfer them.
Does this suit non-food retail?
Yes. Anything with a shelf life — cosmetics, skincare, supplements, sports nutrition — benefits from batch-level dates, and batch numbers also help if a supplier ever issues a recall.
Related parts of OPZAIQ
Stop finding expiry dates during stocktake
Add your next delivery as a batch during the free trial and watch the countdown start.