The continuous inventory method is an inventory management technique that strives to maintain an accurate count of all items in stock at all times. In contrast, the periodic inventory method relies on periodic physical counts of items in stock, with adjustments made to account for any discrepancies between actual and book values. The primary benefit of using the continuous inventory method is that it helps ensure that accurate information about quantities on hand is always available to decision-makers within the organization. This can help avoid stock-outs, overages, and other costly inventory management issues.