Almost every company says the same thing: “Our technicians need to be able to quickly grab supplies.” So the warehouse remains open. This makes sense—until you look at what actually happens. Because in most cases, the problem is not access to the warehouse, but what happens afterward: registration.

Nearly every installation company or technical service provider eventually runs into the same challenge. Technicians need to be able to work quickly, materials must be readily available, and nobody wants delays on a job because parts are out of stock. That’s why many companies choose an open warehouse. Technicians can simply take what they need and move straight on to the next job.

However, this often creates a large, unnoticed problem. Not because employees intentionally make mistakes, but because material usage is not properly recorded. As a result, products disappear from stock without anyone knowing exactly where they went. And that costs far more money than most companies realize.

Why inventory management goes wrong in many warehouses

In practice, everything revolves around speed. A technician who is on the way to a project does not want to do extra administration. Quickly taking a connector, cable, or fitting feels logical. The problem only arises when that removal is not recorded anywhere.

That may seem minor, until you look at it on a larger scale. When multiple technicians take materials daily without registration, structural inventory discrepancies arise. Not due to theft or intent, but because the process depends on discipline and manual administration.

The result shows up in unexpected orders, stock shortages in the warehouse, and projects where material costs turn out higher than initially budgeted. Many companies only realize late how much money is leaking away here.

Open or closed warehouse: which works best?

Many companies think they have to choose between speed or control. An open warehouse works quickly for technicians, but makes it difficult to maintain oversight of inventory. A closed warehouse, on the other hand, provides more control, but can also cause delays when technicians become dependent on a warehouse manager.

However, the real solution is not about choosing between open or closed. It’s about insight. As soon as you have real-time visibility into which materials are being taken, where they end up, and which project they are used for, you gain control over your inventory management.

How BarTrack works in both open and closed warehouses

With BarTrack, it doesn’t really matter whether you work with an open or closed warehouse. In both situations, material issues are easily and instantly recorded.

Technicians can use the BarTrack app to easily register one-off withdrawals from the warehouse and immediately link them to a project, work order, or service van. This ensures that inventory is automatically updated without additional administrative work afterwards.

In addition, it is also possible to work with pick lists. Based on a project or work order, an overview is automatically generated of all required materials. The pick list clearly shows which products need to be collected, how many are needed, and where they are located in the warehouse. This allows technicians to quickly and systematically gather their materials without having to search.

For companies that prefer not to rely entirely on mobile phones on the shop floor, pick lists can also be easily printed. This way, you maintain the same structure and control while allowing technicians to work in the way that best fits your organization.

Real-time inventory management prevents unnecessary costs

Why simple inventory management works better than stricter rules

Improving inventory management without overhauling your entire process

Many companies assume that improving inventory management automatically means completely changing their entire warehouse process. In reality, improvement often starts with small steps.

Some organizations begin by registering individual withdrawals from the warehouse. Other companies start with pick lists for larger projects or standard work packages. From there, the process gradually evolves step by step.

The main advantage of this approach is that you gain immediate insight without disrupting daily operations. It is precisely this practical approach that ensures improvements are sustainable.

Conclusion

The choice between an open or closed warehouse is ultimately less important than many companies think. The real difference lies in whether you have control over your inventory and insight into material usage.

With BarTrack, you create that control, regardless of how your warehouse is set up. Whether technicians take individual materials using the app or work with pick lists for complete projects, the process remains clear, fast, and reliable.

This way, you prevent inventory loss, improve efficiency on the shop floor, and maintain control over the costs of your projects.