Rethinking Consignment Inventory: Why Visibility is the Real Power Move
Consignment inventory is supposed to reduce risk, but without the right visibility and controls in place, it often creates more problems than it solves.
The Problem with “Set It and Forget It” Consignment
Consignment inventory should feel like a win-win: vendors get product in the field, and customers delay cash outlay until the product is used. But for healthcare providers, medical device manufacturers, and distributors, the reality is often murky.
The more products that live in the field (hospitals, surgery centers, rep vehicles, etc.), the harder it is to know what’s actually available, what’s about to expire, or what’s even needed.
If your current medical inventory management system can’t tell you what’s sitting in the field, how are you supposed to run lean?
Spoiler: You can’t.
Common Pain Points in Consigned Inventory
When consignment inventory isn’t managed with the right tools, it creates a domino effect of issues across your entire supply chain.
1. Lack of Visibility
Many organizations rely on spreadsheets, manual entry, or outdated portals for consigned inventory tracking. That’s a fast track to inventory blindness. You might think a product is on-site—until a surgeon is waiting and it’s not.
2. Inaccurate Billing and Delayed Invoicing
Billing for consigned products gets tricky fast when usage is unclear. If you’re relying on reps to report usage manually, you risk lost revenue, slower cash conversion cycles, and reconciliation nightmares.
3. Product Expirations and Write-Offs
When no one knows what’s aging in the field, you’re burning cash with expired product—and burning relationships with expired trust. This is especially dangerous in medical device inventory management, where shelf life matters.
4. Excess Field Stock
Without real-time visibility, field reps tend to hoard “just in case.” Over-ordering and dead inventory clog up your balance sheet and hurt forecasting accuracy.
A Smarter Way to Manage Consignment Inventory
Let’s be clear: consignment can still work. It just needs a digital overhaul.
WA Solutions’ Consignment Inventory Management Solution was designed specifically for healthcare manufacturers and distributors who are tired of the chaos.
Here’s how our healthcare inventory management software flips the script:
Real-Time Visibility with Bluetooth Tech
Our smart lockers and storage locations use Bluetooth sensors to track when products are added or removed. No more manual logging. You get real-time updates on every item including what’s in stock, where it’s located, and what’s being consumed.
Seamless Field Inventory Software
Whether your products are in a hospital cabinet or a rep’s car trunk, our field inventory software keeps it all connected. Reps can see what they have, avoid overstocking, and respond faster to customer needs.
Automated Usage and Billing
Usage data flows directly into your ERP or invoicing system. That means faster billing, fewer disputes, and a smoother cash conversion cycle. Plus, you get tighter reconciliation for compliance and audits.
Analytics That Drive Action
Data from our platform powers smarter forecasting, better product placement, and stronger customer relationships. You’ll know which inventory moves and which sits so you can act accordingly.
Real Results from Consignment Optimization
Healthcare companies using our medical inventory management system have seen:
- Up to 80% reduction in lost inventory
- 50% faster invoicing cycles
- 30% fewer expired units in the field
- 25% fewer field visits for replenishment
One of our clients reduced write-offs by nearly $1M annually just by getting real-time alerts when products neared expiration. Another trimmed their field stock by 35% without impacting rep performance or case readiness.
Make Consignment a Competitive Advantage
Consignment doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right tools, it can be a strategic lever for efficiency, speed, and profitability. If your current solution is falling short or if you’re still managing field inventory in spreadsheets it’s time to level up.
Visit our Consignment Inventory Management page to see how we can help you take control.