Kayl · how the check works
What the check asks, and how it reads your answers.
Kayl compares your own numbers with each other. It never compares you with anyone else. Here are the five checks it runs, in plain numbers.
Six sections, one question from each.
28 questions in six sections, plus up to twelve follow-ups picked from your answers. About forty at most.
- Where it hurts 2 questions
For example: "What frustrates you most about buying today?"
- Your business 4 questions
For example: "How many stores do you run?"
- Your data 6 questions
For example: "How detailed is the sales data you can export?"
- How you buy 11 questions
For example: "Do you set a target cover, the months of stock you aim to hold?"
- How stock flows 2 questions
For example: "Do you measure whether items are in stock in each store?"
- How stock leaves 3 questions
For example: "Do you track dead stock, the items that stopped selling?"
Most questions let you answer I don't know. Some also offer We don't measure this or Doesn't apply to us.
Five checks, in plain numbers.
These checks compare your own numbers with each other. A flag means worth checking, not wrong.
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Stock turn against target cover, on the high side
Twelve divided by your stock turn gives the months of stock you hold on average. If that is more than your target cover, on the same basis, it is worth checking.
Your stock turn of 6 times a year means about 2.0 months of stock on average. That is more than your target cover of 1.5 months allows. Worth checking.
Sample answers: stock turn 6 a year, target cover 1.5 months on average stock.
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Stock turn against target cover, on the low side
The same average is compared with half your order cycle. Less than that, and stock may turn before the next delivery lands.
Your stock turn of 12 times a year means about 1.0 months of stock on average. That is less than half of your order cycle of 90 days. Worth checking.
Sample answers: stock turn 12 a year, order cycle every 90 days.
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Target cover against lead time and order cycle
Your target cover has to leave room for your supplier's lead time plus your order cycle, or stock can run out before the next order arrives.
Your target cover of 1 month does not leave room for your supplier lead time plus your order cycle. Worth checking how the target is set, because stock can run out before the next order arrives.
Sample answers: target cover 1 month on stock plus stock on order, supplier lead time 45 days, order cycle every 30 days.
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PO cover ceiling against target cover
The ceiling counts stock just after a delivery, so an average target is raised by half the order cycle before the two are compared.
Your PO cover ceiling of 1.5 months is below your target cover once both are measured the same way. Worth checking: buyers cannot reach the target without going over the ceiling.
Sample answers: PO cover ceiling 1.5 months, target cover 1.5 months on average stock, order cycle every 30 days.
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PO cover ceiling against order cycle
A ceiling shorter than your order cycle cannot last until the next order arrives.
Your PO cover ceiling of 1.5 months is shorter than your order cycle of 60 days. Worth checking: one order may not last until the next one arrives.
Sample answers: PO cover ceiling 1.5 months, order cycle every 60 days.
Sample answers. Illustrative. Not a real submission.
How each area gets a level.
Each control scores 2, 1 or 0. An area's level is 4 times the points, divided by twice the controls you answered, rounded. If more than half of an area's controls go unanswered, the area shows no level. I don't know and Doesn't apply are left out. We don't measure this on a key question scores 0.
- Buy: how quantities are set, from target cover, display minimums and PO ceilings to approvals, lead time and order cycle.
- Flow: whether you measure what is in stock in each store, and how often.
- Exit: whether you track dead stock, and how your stock turn is worked out.
- Data: what sales and stock you can export, at what detail, and how far back.
- Governance: whether the buying policy and PO approvals are written down and reviewed.
Where to look first comes from what you picked.
The first question in the check asks what frustrates you most about buying today. Your report starts there.
We buy too much, and stock piles up
You told us you buy too much and stock piles up. Start with how buy quantities are set: target cover, the display minimum and the PO cover ceiling.
We run out of our best sellers
You told us you run out of best sellers. Start with availability: how often you measure it, and whether lead time and order cycle leave enough cover.
Slow and dead stock is hard to clear
You told us slow and dead stock is hard to clear. Start with how you track stock that stopped selling, and how fast your stock turns.
Suppliers deliver late or short
You told us suppliers deliver late or short. Start with supplier lead time: track it for each supplier and build it into target cover.
Markdowns eat our margin
You told us markdowns eat your margin. Start with what you buy that does not sell: dead stock tracking and stock turn.
We can't trust our stock and sales numbers
You told us you can't trust your stock and sales numbers. Start with your data: how sales and stock can be exported, and whether cost is complete.
What Level 2 will add. Not open yet.
When it opens, Level 2 will use your own stock and sales files, and MEGA will review every report before you see it.
- It will show how much stock sits above your target, valued at cost.
- It will show cover across the network and store by store.
- It will show dead stock, and how long since each item last sold.
- It will show whether open purchase orders push stock over target.
- It will show how far each number can be trusted, with the reasons.
What Level 2 will need
Exports most retail systems can produce. We tailor the list to your answers.
- A stock snapshot by SKU and location, with unit cost.
- Six to twenty-four months of sales by SKU and location.
- A list of your locations and their type.
- Optional: past stock snapshots, open purchase orders, your range plan and a SKU list.
How the report is made.
The checks use standard inventory arithmetic: cover, stock turn, lead time and order cycle. No AI writes your report. Every figure in a Kayl report is your answer, worked out from your answers, or a fixed setting we name.