Turbo Inventory is an app to allow you to count your stock / inventory from any device (laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile/cell phone).
Turbo Inventory is designed to optimize this process for retailers by implementing efficient and accurate counting methods. Through an API connection, it seamlessly integrates with your Cloud POS account, ensuring real-time synchronization.
This API connection enables the validation of scanned codes against the UPC, Item Lookup Code, and Supplier Part Code in your database, allowing you to identify missing products in your Cloud POS system before initiating an import.
How do I access Turbo Inventory?
Turbo Inventory is accessible through its dedicated URL, which can be bookmarked for convenient future access: https://inventory.citruslime.com/.
To utilize the Turbo Inventory features, an API key is required. Please refer to our instructions on how to obtain a Cloud POS API Key for generating the necessary credentials.
Accessing on different devices…
Since Turbo Inventory is a cloud-based solution, it can be accessed from any device capable of loading a website, such as a laptop, tablet or mobile/cell phone. Later in this guide, we will explain how to scan products using different types of devices.
Whilst Turbo Inventory is built on a URL and accessed via the Internet, you may find it useful to add a ‘quick link’ button to your mobile devices home screen, be this an Android or Apple device.
- To add a website to your Android home screen, open the browser and navigate to the website. Open the ‘More’ menu button and select ‘Add to Home screen’. Confirm, and it will appear as an app on your home screen.
- On an iPhone, open Safari and navigate to the website. Tap the ‘Share’ menu and select ‘Add to Home Screen’. Confirm, and it will appear as an app on your home screen.
Getting Started with Turbo Inventory
Once you have received confirmation that your API Key has been created, you're ready to get started!
Upon loading the Turbo Inventory URL, you will see an empty field in which you can enter your API Key:
Easy access to your API Key
As you currently cannot access Turbo Inventory with your standard Cloud POS login credentials, you may find it beneficial to share the API Key with yourself and the team via a messaging service or through email, for example. This will allow you to quickly and easily copy and paste the API Key on multiple devices.
When you first log in, Turbo Inventory will perform a synchronization with your Cloud POS database, ensuring all item codes and barcodes are accurately imported into the system. After this initial sync, you will have the option to manually trigger future synchronizations as needed to update your product data.
Once the initial sync is complete, you can begin to create your Inventory Count / Stock Take.
1. Click New Inventory Count.
2. Enter a name for the new inventory count, ensuring it is clear and understandable for all colleagues using the software. For example, 'BIKES AW24' indicates that the count includes only bikes for the AW24 season. Once you've chosen an appropriate name, proceed to start the count.
Please Note
Creating an inventory count in Turbo Inventory will not generate a corresponding inventory count in your Cloud POS Back Office. The name assigned to the count is solely for your reference and for naming the file produced at the conclusion of the count.
Completing the Count
Multiple employees can participate in the count simultaneously. Once the count is created, additional staff can access it through the main screen. The system will always display the most recent update for an item. For example, if Employee A records a quantity of 2, and Employee B subsequently adds 3 more of the same item from another area of the store, the total count will automatically update to 5, along with the 'counted by' and 'counted time' details.
Date/Time and Time Zone
Turbo Inventory does not currently localise language or time zones. This means that the counted date/time in Turbo Inventory will be in the UK Date/Time format (DD/MM/YYYY). When you export the file, however, the date/times will be converted to UTC so that they work as expected with your specific Cloud POS time zone.
Using a Laptop/PC…
Using a laptop to complete your inventory count is straightforward. The scanning tools work in the same way as they would in the Cloud POS Back Office, with the ability to attach a barcode scanner or to simply type in the Item Lookup Code/UPC.
If you scan an item or enter a code that is not found in Cloud POS, Turbo Inventory will not add this item to your Inventory Count, but will give you the option to resync with Cloud POS, just in case the item that you are scanning has only recently been added to the database:
Using an Android Device…
As Turbo Inventory is a cloud-based solution, which can be accessed anywhere on any device, you can log in using your phone or a tablet. Turbo Inventory will allow you to use your Android device's camera as a barcode scanner without having to implement any additional settings. This is compatible with Chrome for Android, Opera for Android, Samsung Internet and WebView for Android browsers.
Alternatively, you may wish to use a Bluetooth barcode scanner, which can be connected via your device's bluetooth connections.
Completing the count works much in the same way as if you were to complete on a PC or Laptop.
Using an Apple Device…
When using an iPhone or iPad to complete your count, you can use the device's camera as a Barcode Scanner. However, additional steps are required to enable this feature, and it will only be available through Safari. It is not available yet for iOS 18.
To enable camera scanning functionality, navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Feature Flags > Enable Shape Detection API.
Alternatively, you can connect a bluetooth scanner to your iPhone or iPad.
Finalising the Inventory Count
Once you have completed your inventory count by scanning all applicable products, you're then able to export the counted totals to a csv file.
1. In the top right hand corner of your screen, you will see an Export button, which allows you to finalise the Inventory count and generate a file to be imported into the Cloud POS Back Office.
2. Once you have clicked the ‘Export’ button, you can then click the Cloud POS Inventory link to be directed to the Stock Take / Inventory screen within the Cloud POS Back Office.
3. You now need to create a new Stock Take / Inventory. Your intentions for proceeding will affect the type of Stock Take you select: either a ‘Blank Stock Take / Inventory’ or a ‘Stock Take / Inventory with All Items’.
If your goal is to simply update the current inventory for the items that you have counted, a ‘Blank Stock Take / Inventory’ is the best option. If your goal is to update the inventory for the items you have counted, whilst simultaneously setting all other inventory levels to 0, you should select ‘Stock Take with All Items’.
4. Once you have named and generated your Stock Take, click the Import button.
5. From here, Browse for the file that has been generated by Turbo Inventory and then click Upload File.
6. Once the file has been successfully uploaded, you're able to proceed through to Calculate and Commit/Submit your count, as you would with any other Stock Take / Inventory.
You can find further guidance on completing a Stock Take within our Recommended Stock-Take Procedure.
