In a retail application, what is the first step to identify items that expire soon?

In a retail application, the initial step to identify items that are nearing expiration involves generating an item list using Obj-Browse. This action enables the application to access and retrieve relevant records that contain expiration dates for the items in inventory. By browsing the data through the Obj-Browse method, the system can query the necessary properties, such as expiration dates, and compile a list of items that meet the criteria for being categorized as "expiring soon."

This process is foundational because, without generating the correct item list, subsequent actions, such as calculating discounts or updating pricing, would not be based on accurate data regarding item expiry. Identifying expiring products is crucial in retail management for inventory optimization and minimizing losses, and using Obj-Browse provides the flexibility needed to conduct efficient queries on item data.