The average bar loses 20-25% of its inventory to shrinkage. Over-pouring, spillage, theft, and unrecorded comps. A significant portion of this loss happens in the gap between shifts, where accountability disappears.
Where shrinkage hides between shifts
When one bartender closes and another opens, there's a window where nobody is watching. Kegs kick with no documentation. Bottles go missing. Comps aren't recorded. The opening manager has no idea what the par levels should be because the closing shift didn't document what was used.
The accountability gap
Without structured handoffs, it's impossible to pinpoint when shrinkage occurred. Did the bourbon go missing during the closing shift or was it already short? Without documentation, every shift points at the other.
Documentation strategies that work
- End-of-shift pour counts: Document key bottle levels at closing and verify at opening.
- Keg change documentation: Every keg change should be noted with the time and who changed it.
- Comp and void tracking: Every comp needs a reason documented in the shift handoff.
- Variance flagging: If the closing report says 3/4 bottle of Tito's and the opening count shows 1/2, that variance needs investigation.
Connecting the dots across shifts
ShiftVoice automatically flags recurring inventory issues across shifts. When the same item shows unexplained variance three shifts in a row, the system alerts management. Turning a slow leak into an actionable investigation. Learn how recurring issue detection works.