You are already aware that the rising inflation rate is having a detrimental effect on consumers and businesses. As prices for everything, including food, electricity bills, and household goods, soar to record highs, everyone is feeling the effects. Trade associations, particularly among poorer households who are more vulnerable to the effects of inflation, like the National Retail Federation (NRF) in the US, which monitors industry changes, emphasize some of the ways that these kinds of events alter consumer behavior. Retail industry leaders too are impacted by the situation. However, they can use it as an opportunity with ERP Software for Retail. With Retail Business Software, retailers can make ground-breaking profits in inflation with attractive policies.
Even though it’s challenging to predict exactly what will occur in the coming months, we do know that the retail business has survived and, in some circumstances, even thrived throughout prior recessions. Analyst McKinsey provides a more optimistic analysis of the situation, saying that “retailers may convert these obstacles into opportunities – if they make bold, strategic decisions.” These decisions are typically influenced by retailers’ digital transformation journeys, (ERP Software for Retail) which aid them in acquiring the transparency, knowledge, and abilities required to safeguard margins and promptly address shifting customer and corporate demands.
In light of this, the following five technological strategies can help your business become more resistant to inflation and other issues in the future:
Order Only What Will Sell
It might seem obvious that you must stock the necessary items but is it that easy? Without real-time insights, you cannot understand what items will sell at a specific time. Implement ERP Software for Retail which allows live market updates and statistics to help you analyze the right strategy for upcoming sales. LS Retail ERP will help you analyze the sentiments and spending patterns of your customers to provide them with the best deals during inflation.
Furthermore, ERP for Retail will help you identify present and future buying trends and upcoming shortfalls in your supply chain. Reinforcing your business with retail analysis helps you understand your customer’s patterns, which will be useful for your marketing planning.
Set Reasonable and Appealing Pricing
To attract customers, you do not have to sell your products cheaply all the time, nor must you run a marketing campaign most of the time. Your customers may perceive your brand otherwise and may not even want to pay enough for the full price for your products.
Instead, with ERP Software for Retail and its analytic tools, use this time as an opportunity to reset your promotional strategies. You can think of creative ideas of how you can provide products to customers at reasonable prices while saving your costs and profit margin.
A UK-based retail company, Sainsbury’s, did just that. They introduced new pricing pledges during the inflation as it eased the financial pressure on customers while helping them make more profit. This way not only did they bond emotionally with them but also managed to make a profit. CEO Simon Roberts said that they have invested £60 million to lower the prices so their customers could get exclusive offers and meal deals on budget.
Improve Your Staff Performance with ERP Software for Retail
It doesn’t take long to see that high staff turnover continues to be a significant concern for merchants in this sector. The average staff turnover rate in retail, according to NRF, is over 60%, which is significantly higher than the average for other industries, which is approximately 19%. The expenses incurred due to all those people joining and leaving your payroll quickly mount up. Recruiting, recruiting, onboarding, and training consume time and resources from store management and cost your company money. What can you do, then, to entice the greatest employees, maintain their productivity, and motivate them to stay with you?
A cutting-edge POS Software Solution undoubtedly helps. It not only enables you to organize and monitor employee schedules, but it also provides you with a comprehensive picture of costs and results. With this knowledge, you can handle brief and overstaffed times, identify high performers and reward them, and give those who require tailored coaching and guidance.
Filter Your Omnichannel Strategies
Retailers are preparing for less foot traffic in their businesses due to rising energy costs and gasoline and fuel costs. According to a poll by Alvarez and Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (CRG), more than half of consumers usually or exclusively shop when they truly need something, which results in fewer trips to the store and more things being purchased in bulk per transaction.
In these circumstances, maintaining a connection with your consumers and enticing them to do business with you depends on having a seamless physical and digital presence. Make those experiences count whether customers are visiting your business less frequently or shopping online less frequently. McKinsey provides the following illustration of what this coordinated shopping experience may entail: Retailers can access all of our omnichannel chances to place an order and pick it up using ERP Software for Retail, which will also assist you with navigating and offer you visibility into the goods in the shop. You are welcome to use a QR code to conduct product research while standing in the aisle.
Inflation hits every business but retail the hardest. Retailers need ERP Software for Retail during this time to accurately analyze the market and supply chain. LS Retail provides a complete ERP and CRM suite to help retailers thrive even during inflation. If you are looking for an LS Retail Implementation Partner, you can Contact Trident Information Systems. We are a Gold Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation Partner and Diamond LS Central Partner. For further details Contact Us Today!
