> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inventory-hq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Log Material Usage on a Job | InventoryHQ App

> Log materials used on any job from the InventoryHQ mobile app or dashboard. Inventory deducts automatically and costs flow to your job costing report.

Logging material usage is how field activity becomes financial data. Every time your crew records what they used on a job — whether from a phone on the roof or a laptop back at the office — InventoryHQ deducts those quantities from the right inventory location and adds the costs to the job's running total. The result is a job cost record that builds itself in real time rather than waiting for end-of-week reconciliation.

## Log usage from the mobile app

The mobile app is designed for quick entry in the field. Your tech can log materials in under a minute between tasks.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the app and select a job">
    Tap **Jobs** from the bottom navigation and select the active job from your list. If the job isn't visible, use the search bar to find it by name or customer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Log Materials">
    On the job detail screen, tap **Log Materials**. This opens the material entry form pre-associated with the selected job.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the inventory source">
    Choose where the materials are coming from — typically your assigned truck. The items available will reflect what's currently in stock at that location.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select items and enter quantities">
    Search for or scroll to each item used. Enter the quantity consumed. Add multiple items as needed — for example, 6 bundles of shingles, 1 roll of underlayment, and 30 ridge caps in a single entry session.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the usage">
    Tap **Confirm**. The items are deducted from the selected truck or warehouse inventory and recorded against the job. The job costing report updates immediately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Encourage your techs to log materials at the end of each day rather than waiting until the job is complete. Smaller, more frequent entries are more accurate and easier to correct if a mistake is made.
</Tip>

## Log usage from the dashboard

If you're managing jobs from the office, you can log material usage on behalf of a job directly from the web dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the job record">
    Navigate to **Jobs** in the main menu and click the job you want to update.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Log Materials">
    Click the **Log Materials** button on the job detail page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the inventory source">
    Select the truck or warehouse the materials are being drawn from in the **Source** dropdown.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add items and quantities">
    Search for each item and enter the quantity used. You can add as many line items as needed before submitting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the entry">
    Click **Confirm Usage**. Inventory updates at the source location and the items are added to the job's cost record.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How inventory deducts automatically

When you confirm a usage entry, InventoryHQ handles the inventory math for you. The quantity you entered is subtracted from the on-hand count at the source location — whether that's a specific truck or your main warehouse. You don't need to create a separate transfer record; the usage log acts as the transfer.

If a truck's on-hand quantity for an item drops to or below its reorder threshold as a result of the usage entry, a low-stock alert will appear on your dashboard.

## Edit or correct a usage entry

Mistakes happen. If a quantity was entered incorrectly or assigned to the wrong job, you can correct it without losing the audit trail.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the job record">
    Go to **Jobs** and click the job that contains the incorrect entry.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the usage entry">
    Click the **Materials Used** tab on the job detail page. Locate the entry you need to correct.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit the entry">
    Click the **edit** icon next to the entry. Adjust the quantity, item, or source location as needed, then click **Save Changes**. The inventory counts at the affected locations update automatically to reflect the correction.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Editing a usage entry adjusts the inventory count retroactively. If you're correcting an old entry, check the current on-hand quantities afterward to make sure everything still looks right — especially if other transfers or usage entries have occurred in the meantime.
</Warning>

<Note>
  Usage entries are attributed to the user who created them. The **User Activity Report** under **Reports** shows a full log of who logged what and when, which is useful for reviewing field activity or investigating discrepancies.
</Note>