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Editor’s note: In this article, we describe how integrated data flows from ecommerce and POS systems can help your online and physical stores work in sync. Read on to know the benefits of such integration and engage our ecommerce developers to achieve them.
If you sell successfully via online and brick-and-mortar stores, there is a way you can make your business even more profitable. That is by integrating your business operations conducted via point of sale systems at brick-and-mortar stores and an ecommerce store to offer omnichannel consistency as a result.
3 reasons to work towards an integrated omnichannel presence
At ScienceSoft, we have experience of integrating online and offline sales channels (check this project as an example), so we see direct business benefits of integration. Surely, the initiative requires investment, but here is where the ROI will come from.
No manual routine
Manual data transfer is always time-consuming and prone to human errors and inaccuracies. Integrating both POS and ecommerce with an inventory management system, you enable orders from your website and offline channels to aggregate in a single centralized system. The control over inventory levels and timely procurement becomes more effective and requires less effort from your team.
You can further advance the automation of inventory management. For example, you can set minimum stock level values for SKUs and trigger an automated creation of purchase orders to suppliers. Such an option makes restocking less effort-consuming and helps retailers keep track of their inventory to avoid an out-of-stock situation. Similarly, you can detect the overstocks.
Data-driven promotions
In addition to easier restocking, knowing inventory levels helps retailers track which products are hot and which ones might need a promotion to fuel customers’ interest. With integrated sales data from ecommerce and POS, you can plan and launch special offers to sell the stale stock.
The integration also allows your promotions to be cross-channel as you can offer loyalty programs, bonus cards, promo codes and discounts that will be active for both your online and brick-and-mortar stores. And surely, consumers prefer consistent experience across all their interactions with a particular brand.
Omnichannel delivery
Though fast shipping has a significant impact on customer satisfaction, many buyers want to get their purchases even faster with the help of a self-pickup option. It adds comfort to those who prefer placing orders online and picking them up at brick-and-mortar stores located conveniently on their routes. For any retail business, this also means reduced costs related to order delivery.
Dealing with omnichannel order fulfillment, you need an order management system where orders from your ecommerce channel are centralized. In the system, self-pickup orders are transferred automatically to order fulfillment centers at your brick-and-mortar stores and are further processed there.
Well-planned automation is key to omnichannel retail success
Running several isolated systems, your retail business risks to suffer from tons of manual work and frequent data inconsistencies. You need an elaborate plan on how to map data flows and connect the systems effectively. ScienceSoft will be happy to bring our extensive integration expertise together and help transform your independent systems into a coherent whole. Contact our team for a targeted dialogue.
Are you planning to expand your business online? We will translate your ideas into intelligent and powerful ecommerce solutions.
