On this page (5 sections)
Why a web app works for small-team inventory
Most inventory apps assume you have a barcode scanner, a label printer, and a server. Small teams rarely have all three. A web app running in a browser drops the IT setup to zero: the laptop becomes the receiving station, the phone becomes the scanner, and the spreadsheet becomes the database.
What you need
- A laptop with a recent version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari
- A phone with a working camera
- Barcodes that are scannable (EAN, UPC, Code 128, QR — most retail barcodes work)
How to do a 200-item cycle count in 15 minutes
- Open ScanSheet on the laptop and choose the Inventory template.
- Click Create session and scan the QR with the team phone.
- Walk the aisles. The phone beeps on each successful scan.
- Pause for any off-by-one or damaged barcode. Edit the row in the browser.
- Press Export XLSX and hand the file to the inventory lead.
Privacy: where your inventory data lives
By default, all scan rows live in the desktop browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded unless you explicitly turn on Google Drive backup (Pro) or click Export. This makes ScanSheet suitable for inventory counts that include sensitive SKUs or pricing.
How ScanSheet compares to other inventory workflows
| Workflow | Hardware cost | Setup time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScanSheet web app (this) | $0 — uses phone | 10 seconds | Small teams, 200–5,000 items |
| Pen and paper + manual entry | $0 | 0 seconds | Under 20 items, audit only |
| Native inventory app | $0–$30/mo per seat | 1–3 days | Mid-market, 10k+ SKUs |
| Dedicated scanner + CSV | $50–$300 per unit | 30 minutes | Fixed scanning stations |
Inventory barcode scanner in your browser