Bottle inventory is one of the biggest hidden costs in water delivery. A clear bottle circulation process protects stock and reduces daily confusion.
Why bottle inventory matters
A 19 liter bottle is a real asset. If a shop owns 300 bottles and loses track of 40, that is not a small issue. It directly affects delivery capacity and replacement cost.
Many shops know their sales but do not know exactly where their bottles are. This creates pressure during busy days because the team cannot confidently plan stock and routes.
The three inventory numbers every owner should know
The first number is total bottles owned. The second is bottles currently with customers. The third is bottles available in shop.
Lost or damaged bottles should be recorded separately because they explain why usable stock is lower than expected.
- Total bottles owned
- Bottles with customers
- Bottles in shop
- Lost or damaged bottles
How delivery entries affect inventory
When a home delivery is recorded, delivered bottles increase the count of bottles with customers. When empty bottles are returned, the outside count should reduce.
Walk-in refill entries are different because the customer usually brings their own bottle. That sale should not move company-owned bottles.
How Sight Ledger protects bottle records
Sight Ledger connects delivery entries with bottle inventory so owners can see total stock, bottles outside, bottles in shop, and lost or damaged bottles.
The bottle circulation report helps owners identify unusual stock movement before the loss becomes too large.
How Sight Ledger fits this workflow
Sight Ledger helps water shops manage customers, deliveries, walk-in refills, inventory, payments, invoices, expenses, and reports from one web dashboard. It is designed for shop owners who want clear daily records without relying on registers or scattered Excel sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Should security deposit be counted as revenue?
No. A security deposit is not normal sales revenue. It should be visible in reports, but separate from delivery income.
What causes bottle inventory mismatch?
Common reasons are missed empty returns, unrecorded new customer bottles, damaged bottles, and walk-in refills being treated like home deliveries.