Inventory Receiving

By Tibeau De Grauwe, FounderUpdated June 2026

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What Is Inventory Receiving?

Inventory receiving is the goods-receipt step where deliveries are checked against their purchase order and confirmed into stock. Connecting receiving directly to purchase orders rather than a separate manual stock adjustment keeps your inventory management software accurate from the moment goods physically arrive.

Receiving Features

Receive Against POs

Check deliveries in directly against the purchase order they belong to, so quantities and pricing stay linked.

Barcode Check-In

Scan items as they arrive to confirm them against the expected order line and speed up high-volume deliveries.

Partial Receiving

Check in shipments that arrive in multiple batches, updating stock for exactly what was received each time.

Discrepancy Visibility

See shortages, overages, or damaged items the moment they are recorded, instead of discovering them later.

Benefits of Structured Receiving

Update stock the moment a delivery is checked in, not after a manual count
Catch shortages and damage before they reach customers
Keep purchase orders open until everything ordered has arrived
Speed up high-volume receiving with barcode scanning
Receive directly into the correct warehouse or location
Avoid double-entry between receiving and stock adjustments
Maintain an accurate link between what was ordered and what arrived
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Frequently asked questions

What is inventory receiving?
Inventory receiving is the process of checking in goods as they arrive from a supplier, verifying the quantity and condition against what was ordered, and updating stock records to reflect what actually came in. It is the step that connects a purchase order to real, countable stock on your shelves.
What is the goods receipt process?
The goods receipt process typically involves: matching the delivery against its purchase order, counting and inspecting the items received, recording any discrepancies or damage, and confirming receipt in the system so stock levels update. Done well, it catches shortages and damage before they become a customer-facing problem.
How does receiving software update stock automatically?
When you mark a purchase order as received fully or partially the quantities you confirm are added directly to stock for the relevant location, without a separate manual stock adjustment. This keeps the link between what you ordered, what arrived, and what is on the shelf intact.
What happens if a delivery does not match the purchase order?
Receiving software lets you record exactly what arrived, even if it differs from what was ordered partial shipments, shortages, or extra units. Stock updates reflect the actual received quantity, while the purchase order stays open for whatever is still outstanding, so discrepancies are visible instead of silently overwritten.
Can you receive a purchase order across multiple deliveries?
Yes. Suppliers frequently ship large orders in batches. Partial receiving lets you check in each batch as it arrives, updating stock for just that batch while the purchase order remains open until everything ordered has been received.
Why use barcode scanning during receiving?
Scanning barcodes during receiving speeds up checking items against the purchase order and reduces manual data-entry errors, especially for high-volume deliveries with many SKUs. Each scan can confirm the item and quantity against the expected order line.
Does receiving inventory work across multiple warehouse locations?
Yes. Deliveries can be received into the specific location or warehouse they arrive at, so stock is allocated correctly from the moment it is checked in, rather than needing a transfer afterward.
How does receiving connect to inventory accuracy?
Receiving is one of the most common points where inventory errors creep in uncounted deliveries, wrong quantities entered, or stock added to the wrong location. A structured receiving process tied directly to purchase orders closes that gap and keeps records aligned with what is physically in stock.