EPoS Software - How to save time and money in tougher times
Second part in a series
Reducing time in Quadrant 1
Here are some areas where computers help retailers save time. If more than half of these apply to your shop how much time might it save you?
- Serve customers: With barcodes and prices built in to the system serving customers becomes so much faster and more accurate. Ok, so you have to add the stock in the first place but adding stock gives you benefits across many Quadrant 1 and 2 activities. Once you have done it there are many efficiency improvements. In giftware, many products don’t have barcodes and this is fine as well, they can be sold from the stock system without stock codes very quickly, failing that hotkeys can be used. Even if the percentage of products not on the system is say 50%, it still means that the other 50% will be stock controlled and real improvements gained.
- Manage customer returns: By scanning the sales receipt the transaction is identified, the return button will issue a refund or credit note and add the item back to stock si it can immediately put it on the shelf again.
- Discounts: Instant price changes can be applied, then a simple POS sign applied and all the till prices will be correct.
- Stock replenishment: First thing in the morning, a report and be printed shows which stock needs to be replenished.
- Place orders: The system shouldn’t dictate what you are selling, it should make recommendations to you. It can make good recommendations by analyzing sales trends and profitability of each line. You then have information at your fingertips to help make the right decisions quickly. Because all the supplier information and many of the products are on the system, reordering existing products is so easy. And adding a new product to the order it very simple as well and once you have done it, it never needs to be done again.
- Receive orders: When orders come in they are booked into the system. Any item found damaged on delivery is dealt with quickly. A system can automatically create a returns letter explaining how many items were received faulty which can be immediately faxed to the supplier.
- Handle customer queries: The system will keep a record of customers so any queries about special orders, handling deposits or a Christmas club can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
- Tidy shop: Ok so there is not much that can be done by a computer here, just yet anyway.
- Cashing up: A computer will keep a record of all cash and card transactions and will allow you to check your total when you cash up and help track where any discrepancies are more quickly.
- Keeping the books: Many retailers do a lot of their own bookkeeping, and it takes ages. Well the computer system will track all sales values and VAT. A report will give the information needed to be passed to the accountant.
- Manage website: Adding and removing products can be time consuming. With a multichannel stock system you only need to add a product once for the shop, then the information is already there for the website as well. Name, Cost, Price etc. is already there, all that is needed is a picture and additional text. A computer system saves duplicating effort by doing everything once only.
These are some of the ways in which computers can save staff time, they can add up to a large percentage. This can be important, even fundamental to the success of the business as it allows precious time to be spent on the vital Quadrant 2 activities to push the business forward. In the next issue, staying on the subject of staff effectiveness we will look at how computers can help with some of these Quadrant 2 activities in the time management grid.