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2024Imagine a store overflowing with amazing products, but no one can find what they want. That’s what managing a big or complex product catalog in your POS system can feel like. Keeping track of everything – from the latest gadgets to seasonal favorites – can be a headache.
But here’s the good news: an all-in-one POS system is your secret weapon for smooth inventory management. It means fewer headaches, happier customers, and a thriving business.
In this article, we’ll discuss some simple strategies and tools to help you conquer your complex product catalog. We’ll walk you through:
Ever feel like your product list has a life of its own? Keeping track of everything – can be a big challenge for retailers, especially when managing large product catalogs from suppliers. Entering product data into your retail software database, updating prices and product changes, managing stock levels, and handling variations can LITERALLY eat up your time and lead to frustrating mistakes.
That’s where distributor and vendor POS system integrations come into play.
Integrating your POS system with distributors and vendors allows you to access a broader range of products and automate tasks like:
Look for a POS system with powerful distributor integration features, helping you sell more products in your store that you don’t even stock. By leaning on your suppliers’ product feeds and on-hand inventory, you can offer an ‘endless aisle’ of products in your store and on your website!
Managing a large product catalog can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are two effective methods to streamline inventory management within in your POS system and keep your product database up to date:
This method involves uploading product information from your vendors using a spreadsheet.
Here’s how you can do it:
This option goes a step further by leveraging pre-built connections between your POS system and your vendors. Here’s how it works:
Importing products directly from vendor catalogs into your point of sale system can streamline your inventory management process and ensure your product database reflects the latest details. Here’s a quick comparison for you to help you get a better idea of both the methods:
| Feature | Manual Product Import | Automated Vendor Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Data Source | Vendor spreadsheet | Vendor catalog via API integration |
| Setup Effort | More time consuming (configuring settings) | Less time consuming (pre-built API integrations) |
| Data Updates | Manual exports from suppliers and uploads required by retailer | Automatic updates via the integration, with your customer pricing reflected |
| Effort/Outcome | More time consuming and manual process, resulting in higher risk of errors during data entry | Less time consuming, updates provided automatically by vendors, resulting in saved time and less errors |
Want to offer a wide range of products without the storage headaches? Look for a POS system with built-in integrations for vendor catalogs. By choosing a retail system with this functionality, you can simplify inventory management, diversify your product offering, and keep your customers happy.
In today’s competitive market, offering a wide range of products is the key to success. And that’s where distributor integrations come in and supercharge your business. Here’s why they are important:
By choosing a POS system with distributor integrations, you can stay competitive in the ever-changing retail environment, simplify managing your products, and offer a more diverse selection.
Today’s shoppers want choices, and they want lots of them. In-store kiosks are like an easy way to offer them an endless selection of products right in your store without needing to stock everything yourself.
Here’s why in-store kiosks are becoming so popular:
Want to see how kiosks can transform your store? Check out our video below! While it focuses on online shopping, the same technology powers our in-store kiosks. This means you can sell more products in-store without stocking extra merchandise. Any product that is in-stock at your suppliers warehouse, you can make available to sell in your store through kiosks.
Managing a complex product catalog doesn’t have to be a nightmare. A POS system with features like distributor integrations can tame even the most complex catalogs, saving you time and frustration.
At Celerant, we are adding on new distributor integrations every month, so if you don’t see your distributors in the list, it doesn’t mean it can’t be developed. We are eager to get to know your suppliers and get conversations started to help you save time and sell more!
For a retailer, nothing is more important than your inventory management. Keeping your shelves stocked with the best-selling products and trusting your inventory data is accurate within your POS and inventory system is the name of the game.
Looking to learn more about inventory and how you can ensure accurate counts across your retail business?
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