A cycle count is a term most all retail employees will know and shutter at when hearing it.

The general idea is that a cycle count involves counting only a portion of a total inventory, whether this is based on location, business, branch, or some other decider.

A cycle count intends to improve overall accuracy by performing small inventories regularly instead of waiting for a total inventory.

It is also a common tool used by managers to keep employees busy, even though there wasn’t anyone in the store, and I should be allowed to ask how my coworker’s weekend was.