Inventory sampling is a process by which a representative sample of goods from an inventory is selected and counted to estimate the number of goods on hand. This procedure avoids counting every item in an inventory, which can be time-consuming and costly. Sampling can be done manually or using a computerized system. In either case, the company must use a statistically valid method to select the items for sampling. The most common practice is random sampling, in which every item has an equal chance of being selected. Other methods include systematic sampling, where items are chosen based on a specific pattern, and stratified sampling, where items are divided into categories and samples are taken from each type.