Overview
When conducting inventory audits in the field, displaying expected stock quantities can sometimes lead to confirmation bias. The Blind Audit Mode feature ensures that field users record raw physical counts without seeing system expected quantities. Additionally, administrators can now assign audits scoped specifically by Product Line boundaries (with options for implants or instruments) to target precise subsets of inventory.
Key Benefits
Unbiased Data Collection: Hiding expected stock quantities forces field users to enter actual counted numbers, preventing assumptions or skewed figures.
Targeted Audit Scoping: Admins can trigger cycle counts for entire product lines or narrow down the scope to specific categories such as Implants only or Instruments only.
Role-Based Visibility: System Admins and Operations users retain full visibility into expected quantities and variances, while field auditors only see the fields needed to perform the physical count.
How to Create a Blind Audit
Step 1: Initiate Audit & Enable Blind Mode
Log into the ConnectSx Console as an Admin or Operations user.
Navigate to Inventory > Audits.
Click the New Audit button in the upper-right corner.
Select the user to whom you want to assign the audit and choose the appropriate Manufacturer.
On Step 1 (Select Count Type):
Check the box labeled "Hide expected quantities from assigned user (Blind Audit)".
Select the scope of your audit (By Catalog #, By container, Full Count, or By Product Line).
Click Next.
Note: Blind Audit Mode can also be enabled for other count types (such as Full Inventory or Container Counts).
Step 2: Finalize and Send Notification
Set the Due Date for the audit assignment.
Review the recipient email address, subject line, and instructions/message body.
Click Create.
Field Auditor View (Execution)
When the assigned sales representative or distributor opens the audit request on the mobile app or web console:
Blind Audit Enabled: The Expected Quantity column is completely removed from their view. They enter counts for each catalog/lot number without knowing the system balance.
Blind Audit Disabled: The expected quantity is visible as a reference point.
Admin & Operations View
Admins and Ops users always retain access to expected quantities, actual counted quantities, and calculated discrepancies across all audit modes.
User Role | Blind Audit Mode Enabled (TRUE) | Blind Audit Mode Disabled (FALSE) |
Admin / Operations | Displays Expected Quantity | Displays Expected Quantity |
Assigned Audit User (Field Rep/Distributor) | Hides Expected Quantity | Displays Expected Quantity |
Reconciling Blind Audit Results
Once the assigned user enters their counts and clicks Submit:
Return to Inventory > Audits.
Click into the submitted audit to view the results.
Compare the Counted Quantity against the Expected Quantity to identify variances.
Reconcile inventory using Auto-Reconcile (which transfers variances to/from your Discrepant Custodian) or manually process stock adjustments.