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State of Inventory 2026

What is bad inventory tracking really costing you?

We asked 400 operators what inventory really costs in 2026: shrinkage, carrying cost, stockouts, and order errors. Book a short walkthrough and we’ll run your number against the data.

Show me what I'm losing
Based on a survey of 400 operators across 33 industries. No credit card, no obligation.
The Leak

Most inventory leaks never show up on your P&L

The money doesn’t leave in one line item. It drips out in four places at once: stock that shrinks, cash tied up in overstock, sales lost to stockouts, and returns from picking errors. Each one looks small. Together they add up fast.

Here’s what those benchmarks add up to for a $5M operation carrying $500K in stock:

Four leaks, straight from the 2026 data

Every figure above traces back to a survey stat. Here’s where each one comes from.

Shrinkage
 80% report 1–5% a year
 Lost, damaged, or miscounted stock that comes off the shelf as pure loss. The biggest group lands at 3% to 5%. 
Carrying Cost
 54% pay 10%+ to hold stock
Defensive buy-ahead ties up cash in stock you don't need yet. And 84% stockpile at least occasionally.
Stockouts
 44% stock out monthly
Orders you can’t fill from stock become delays, partial shipments, or walk-aways.
Order Errors
 Most run at 95–98%
Wrong picks mean returns, re-ships, and churn. Small per order, real at volume.

Read the full State of Inventory 2026 report

What operators really think, do, and want in 2026. Spreadsheets, AI, cost pressure, the satisfaction paradox, and all the data behind them.

Read the report
 The fix

What plugging the leak looks like

Those four numbers aren’t four separate problems. They’re what happens when purchases, stock, and orders live in different spreadsheets. Put them in one system and the gaps that create the leak close up.

How inFlow stops the leak

The direct line from each survey finding to a capability.

Reorder points & low-stock alerts
Set minimums per item and get an email before you run dry. Reorder ahead of the stockout instead of after it.
Real-time counts you can trust
One live source of truth across warehouse, trucks, and jobsites — so the count on screen matches the shelf.
Landed cost & job costing
Know the real value of materials tied to every order or project, so carrying cost stops hiding in a spreadsheet.
Mobile barcode scanning
Scan receipts, transfers, and picks from any phone. Fewer keystrokes means fewer of the errors that drive returns.

Get your number, then close the gap

Your actual leak Bring a recent stock count and a month of orders. We’ll run your real number on a short call.
See it in your data We’ll show you exactly where the leak is coming from — not a generic estimate.
Try it free Start a 14-day trial whenever you’re ready. No credit card required.
Get your numberStart a free trial
Free 14-day trial. No credit card required.