Which step is essential when reporting out of stocks?

When reporting out of stocks, confirming that the shelf is empty and checking backstock is a crucial step. This involves verifying that a product is indeed unavailable on the sales floor and assessing whether there are additional units available in the store's backstock or inventory. By doing this, you ensure that the information reported is accurate, which allows the management to take appropriate action, such as restocking the shelves from the back or placing an order for more products if necessary.

Additionally, confirming these facts prevents miscommunication and helps maintain effective inventory management. It also minimizes customer dissatisfaction by checking if the item can be retrieved quickly from the backstock, rather than prematurely reporting an item as completely out of stock without verifying. This process is vital for ensuring optimal customer service and maintaining product availability in the store.