When setting up an inventory count in Ply, you have three different ways to select the materials you want to include. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose the best option for your workflow:

Option 1: Select Specific Materials Only

If you want to include only a few specific materials, follow these steps:

Set up the basics of the Inventory Count (Location + Assignee + Dates).
Check the box for "Show Additional Settings."
Do not select anything under the "All Items" tab.
Go directly to the Custom List tab and select the materials you want to count.
Save your Inventory Count.

Result: only the materials you manually selected will appear in the count. The assignee will see exactly this list; nothing more.

⚠️ Common mistake: If you accidentally select a category in the All Items tab AND add items in the Custom List, both groups will be included. Make sure the All Items tab is blank if you only want your custom picks.

Option 2: Select an Entire Category

If you want to include all materials under a specific category:

Set up the basics of the Inventory Count (Location + Assignee + Dates).
Check the box for "Show Additional Settings."
Go to the "All Items" tab.
Select the category you want.
Save your Inventory Count.

Result: every material assigned to that category at the chosen location will be included in the count automatically. If new materials are added to that category before the count starts, they'll be included too.

💡 Pair with cost range for high-value category counts: If you want to audit HVAC parts but only the expensive ones, select the HVAC category AND enable the Cost Range Filter in Additional Settings to set a minimum cost threshold.

Option 3: Select a Category + Add Extra Materials

If you need to include an entire category plus some additional materials:

Set up the basics of the inventory count (Location + Assignee + Dates).
Check the box for "Show Additional Settings."
From the "All Items" tab, select the category you want.
Then, go to the Custom List tab and select any extra individual materials.
Save your inventory count.

Result: the count includes all materials from the selected category plus your manually added extras. If a custom-picked item already belongs to the selected category, it won't be duplicated; Ply deduplicates automatically.

💡 No need to re-add category items in the Custom List: If AC Filter is already in the HVAC category and you've selected HVAC in All Items, you don't need to also add it in the Custom List; it's already included.

📐Sizing Your Count Right

Bigger isn't always better; here's a practical guide to scope.

Coverage	Type	Description
🚀 10–25%	Weekly spot-check	Fast, low-friction. Focus on recently moved items or specific high-risk materials. Takes 10–15 minutes per location.
📅 25–50%	Monthly category count	Count all items in one or two categories. Balances thoroughness with time. Good rhythm for most field service companies.
📊 50–100%	Quarterly deep audit	Broad sweep of a full location. Plan for 30–60 min per location. Ideal before a fiscal quarter close or major restock.
✅ 100%	Annual full count	Count everything at every location. Reserve for year-end reconciliation. Consider doing this location-by-location over several days.

Use the Random % setting for consistent coverage: If you want to count 20% of your warehouse every week, set the selection method to random and the percentage to 20%. Over 5 weeks you'll have covered the whole warehouse without the burden of a full count at once.

Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

If you only want to count specific materials, make sure no category is selected under the "All Items" tab.
Always double-check your selections before saving.
If unsure, reviewing the videos linked above can help clarify the process quickly.