Close a retail stock-check radio request by naming an owner, acknowledging the request, reporting the result and confirming collection or handoff. Keep it open until the colleague helping the customer knows the outcome and any unfinished work has an owner.
This is TWRG’s proposed procedure for routine stock checks. The calls below are fictional training examples, not a completed TWRG field test.
- Name one owner for each request.
- Confirm the result and the handoff separately.
- Record unfinished work for the next shift.
What belongs in the first stock-check radio call?
Name the receiving role, your name or station, your location, the item and the action needed. Use the store’s item reference and relevant size or color. Keep customer names, contact details and payment information out of routine calls; use the store’s approved process when needed.
Before the shift, agree who receives requests and which channel or talkgroup to use. “Stockroom” is the example role below.
What counts as a useful acknowledgment?
Name the person accepting the work and confirm the item and action. Repeat any uncertain detail before searching; other staff should join only when the owner requests help or a supervisor reassigns the work.
What does a complete stock-check exchange sound like?
Report what was checked, the result and the next action. Finding an item and delivering it are separate steps. Item A17 and both staff names below are fictional.
| Stage | Example call |
|---|---|
| Request | “Stockroom, Maya at the fitting room. Please check item A17, navy, medium. One customer is waiting.” |
| Acceptance | “Maya, Jordan. I’ll check A17, navy, medium, and call back with the result.” |
| Result | “Maya, Jordan. One matching jacket found. It’s ready at the stockroom pickup point.” |
| Handoff | “Jordan, Maya. Received. I’ll collect it.” |
| Closure | “Jordan, Maya. Jacket collected. This request is complete.” |
If the item is not located, name the area checked and agree the next step. One unsuccessful search does not establish the store’s entire stock position.
When should a radio request become a recorded task?
Record requests that need follow-up or cross a shift in the store’s approved task app or service log. Follow store policy for completed requests.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Request | Item, variant, action and location. |
| Owner | Who accepted; who awaits the result. |
| Current state | Checking, result returned, awaiting handoff or closed. |
| Next step | Action, responsible person and update point. |
| Closure | Outcome and any remaining work transferred. |
What should happen if nobody answers?
Use the store’s agreed fallback: contact a supervisor or use another approved method, with a named person responsible for following up. Check staffing, working radios and the expected channel; investigate recurring location-specific missed calls with a coverage check.
How should open requests move between shifts?
Give a named incoming colleague the request, current result and next action, then get acknowledgment. Update the same record to avoid repeating a completed search. Transfer customer-facing responsibility too when that colleague changes.
How can a manager rehearse the workflow?
Practice with the actual roles, radios and locations. Rehearse an unanswered call and a shift transfer separately.
- Confirm who receives and accepts the request.
- Check that both sides can understand the exchange.
- Follow the result through collection and the task record.
- Fix unclear responsibilities and repeat that step.
Use the Retail Radio System Buying Guide for quantities, channels and coverage planning. Compare radios for retail stores against your fleet and communication needs.
What else should your store decide?
Should every stock check have the same response deadline?
Agree an update point based on the request and staffing, plus a fallback if it takes longer. This procedure sets no universal response time.
Does this workflow require a new radio or task app?
Start with existing equipment and approved records. Assess remaining coverage, usability or recordkeeping problems before replacing anything. This procedure does not demonstrate a radio-to-app integration.