One
of the top challenges faced now-a-days by small businesses is Inventory
management. As we are living in the information age, consumers expect to find
everything with minimum effort. This not only includes information but also
variety in product selection. Stores required to stock and keep a track of
large number of SKUs to meet the demand. They risk of losing immediate sale and
potentially the customer if they don’t.
A
study done by Software Advice according to which 83% of customer’s stop
shopping at a store due to out-of-stock items.
Retailers
take into consideration risk of losing a customer over low inventory when
making decisions regarding inventory. While balancing the decision they must
also consider the cost of increasing SKU count keeping inventory and tracking
that inventory. When they lose customers due to lack of inventory then up goes
the SKU count.
54%
of warehouses plan to expand the number of inventory SKUs carried over upcoming
five years. The same principles apply when most small businesses don’t stock
their products in warehouses. To keep up with the shopper demand smaller
businesses are pressured to constantly increase their SKU count. Shoppers when
walk into a store expect to see the type of variety they find online. To manage
this type of inventory, business owners must implement an inventory management
system.
The
shocking is that 48% of small businesses use either a manual process to track
inventory or do not track their inventory at all leading to multiple problems. Without
an inventory management system in place, business owners either don’t know what
they have in stock or they spend a great deal of time tracking inventory
manually. This will lead to lost in sales and countless hours lost in
unnecessary manual processes.
Small
businesses looking to improve their inventory management process a point of
sale would be best served. 48% of small businesses use either a manual process
to track inventory, or do not track at all.
1: Online Store
Management
According
to a Journal a study reported that shoppers made 51% of their purchases online.
Consumers splitting their time evenly between online shopping and in-store
shopping, retail stores need to be in both places. In addition to brick and
mortar, retailers should have an online store. It is obvious in Internet age,
but surprisingly 46% of small businesses don’t have a website for their
business.
Business
owners don’t have time to run two separate stores but small businesses need to
have an online store. Having the right pos software for small business, this is not a problem. A single system should
be the link between these stores that can effectively manage the products and
data from both places. Business owners should search for an epos that can
effectively and accurately track purchases and inventory online in the store.
Having a single system can collect and manage data from both places will increase
inventory movement and save time.
2: Mobile
Capability
Having
POS system that can be accessed online via mobile device is a huge benefit.
Store owners can access the POS on a tablet from home or carry with them to
different areas of the store if needed and instead of working with outdated,
bulky hardware.
A
mobile POS increases convenience for customer’s to view the business in
addition to increasing convenience for the store owner. Now-a-days customers
are becoming more accustomed shopping via their smartphones. In a study
conducted by ComScore found that 44% of smartphone users said they made a
purchase from their device, up from 41% a year ago. If a customer sees a mobile
POS used in the business they see that as a modern retailer who can understand
their customers and the increasing role of current technology in today’s shopping
arena.
Convenience
is always an advantage and mobile POS brings the opportunities to it. Store
owners can bring their POS wherever they go, they are always available to help
a customer finalize a sale.
3: Special Services
Capability
A
great way to bring revenue for small businesses by special services set
themselves apart and improves customer’s experience. A POS system along with pos software for small business should
serve businesses in this capacity by making the process easier. Store owners
should choose a POS that allows services to be added as products.
POS
will not only allow services to be added as products but also help stores
manage those services. It should provide a report that gives an overview. It should improve the store-customer relationship
through the service processed. Employees should be able to send reminders from
the POS which help customers feel connected to the store. As text messages have
a 98% open rate, a POS that texts customers opens the door to a lot of
potential marketing options.
An Effective POS is
a Must Have
Customers
expect stores to constantly carry a variety of products always available in
stock, store owners need to manage the products they sell both in-store, and
online. A POS system should have mobile capability and should process services
efficient and easy.
No comments:
Post a Comment