We may be a bit biased, but it’s really hard
to argue with the benefits that come from the integration of retail software
processes, and departments across channels. The benefits are crystal clear for
both the business and its customers. These benefits include:
- Cross-sell and
up-sell opportunities at physical
stores increase dramatically when sales associates have access to real-time,
accurate, enterprise-wide inventory data.
- Operating costs are reduced through the convergence of multiple
sales channels and inventories on a single/integrated platform.
- Customer
satisfaction skyrockets when shoppers experience
a consistent shopping experience across all channels
- Sales that might otherwise be lost to location-specific
out-of-stocks can be saved by offering customers alternative fulfillment methods, either
online or through a store associate accessing real-time inventory data on a
mobile device.
- Order and
fulfillment costs are reduced when
merchandising, inventory management and shipping processes are uniform across channels.
- Decision-making is improved through better, faster access to the
demand data that drives forecasting, merchandising and replenishment.
- Efficiency and
confidence increase when decision-makers
in all channels and departments are working from a single version of accurate
data on a common platform.
While these advantages are inherently
understood, they haven’t been easily achieved. With the maturation of software as a service (SaaS)
and cloud computing,
however, many of the barriers to the enterprise-wide data
visibility that’s prerequisite to omnichannel retailing have been removed. In the cloud, the cost and
complexity of on-premise, physical servers and software environments are virtually eliminated.
On a single platform, the lack of agility
and data portability due to data stored in department- and channel-specific silos is gone. And,
perhaps most importantly, cloud computing allows retailers to scale their single-platform cross-channel retail
software systems at their own pace, strategically and within budgetary limitations.
The cloud has become recognized as a key enabler of retail’s move toward
single-platform commerce, allowing the transition to be made in a fiscally
responsible and efficient way.
Systems disparity is the single largest
barrier to creating a seamless customer experience. Shoppers simply cannot experience
the kind of fulfillment and returns flexibility discussed here without customer-facing
and inventory management systems working together seamlessly. The cloud enables
a single platform ordering solution for multiple channels, optimization of stock
visibility in each channel and management of the customer’s order through any
channel by removing the server-based data silos common in a distributed
enterprise.
When data and systems are disparate and
distributed from one channel or store to the next, associates are denied the opportunity to
sell what they can’t see and customers are denied the opportunity to buy what appears
unavailable. A cloud-based inventory, CRM and order management
platform is the quickest and most
efficient path to the omnichannel ideal. It’s a data and systems integration enabler that facilitates the
exchange among channels and creates competitive differentiation
throughout the retail experience.
Achieving
a seamless omnichannel experience is not out of reach. Let us show you how we
are making it a reality for hundreds of B2C and B2B
merchants, manufacturers and distributors who are using NetSuite SuiteCommerce
to seamlessly connect every step of a multi-channel, multi-location
business—from Ecommerce, POS and order management to merchandising, marketing,
inventory, financials and customer support.
Heading to the Shop.org Annual Summit (opens in new tab) in Chicago?
Come
visit NetSuite at booth #1307in the exhibit hall where
we will be offering information and product demos of NetSuite SuiteCommerce
capabilities. To learn more and sign up to meet with us to
discuss how our commerce (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab)solutions (opens in new tab) can help transform your business, click here. (opens in new tab)
-Branden
Jenkins, GM of Retail at NetSuite