Count sacks in a stack from a photo

Counting bags and sacks in a warehouse stack or bulk-bag yard

Warehouses hold sugar, flour, animal feed, fertilizer and plastic granules in bags, and the stock figure is checked at intake, in cycle counts between full stock takes and before a load leaves the bay. Most bags arrive on pallets in an interlocked pattern, or as large bulk bags standing on their own. Photograph a pallet face square-on so every bag outline is visible, or stand back far enough to fit a whole row of bulk bags in one frame.

Bulk bags are separate, fully visible objects, which suits Distinct objects mode; it draws a box around each one. Smaller bags pressed together in a pallet stack suit Auto mode with an example: box one whole bag face, not its printed label. Stretch wrap around the pallet throws glare, and bags of different sizes or brands on one pallet need separate examples. Stacks several pallets deep only show the front, so walk the aisle and photograph each open side.

For a whole warehouse, Premium Bulk audit counts a queue of photos with the Distinct objects detector and adds each result to the tally with a grand total; review each marked image afterward. A stock-take spanning many different products may suit the inventory counter, which starts without a preset item and suggests one from each photo. Cement is covered on the cement bag page, and stored grain on the grain sack counter.