Inventory review becomes difficult when the same file is used as a starting register, a count sheet and a final corrected record. Separating those roles makes it easier to explain what changed.
Establish the starting point
Agree which register version the count uses and identify assets consistently. Record the locations included and any known exclusions. A copied file should have an explicit purpose and an owner, rather than becoming a second master by accident.
Record observations without erasing the baseline
Capture who checked an item, what was observed and when. A difference in location should be recorded as a finding until someone determines whether the register or the physical arrangement needs correction.
An illustrative case: a laptop registered to one office is found in another. The observation is useful immediately, but it does not by itself explain whether an authorised transfer occurred.
Close differences with a reason
Group findings into an assigned review queue. Keep the original observation alongside the resolution so a later reviewer can follow the change. Agree how unresolved items appear in the final output instead of hiding them in blank cells.
The annual inventory story shows the HATT prototype's records, commissions and report views. Use it as a starting point for discussing the workflow, with your organisation's actual review requirements confirmed separately.
