From inventory management to CRM and from Point-of-sale to e-commerce, businesses use disconnected business applications. These software applications work independently and cannot communicate or share data.
The result is multiple data entries, errors, waste of time, and reduced efficiency. A solution to this problem is employing unified commerce solutions like those offered by providers like comactivity.com.au.
What Is a Unified Commerce Solution?
Unified commerce solutions refer to one platform for entire business operations. This unified platform has ERP, warehouse management, product cycle management, supply chain planning, retail management, and POS.
Read on to understand how unified commerce solutions can help reinvent business operations.
Single Version of Truth
Businesses using separate business systems for different operations often face difficulties managing disparate data across different systems. Unified commerce solutions allow businesses to have a single version of truth by centralizing data storage and reducing events of data silos.
When all departments and stakeholders access and operate the same data, they can rely on it and take critical business decisions without delays. Experts offer a unified commerce solution that brings all business components under one roof, including distribution centers, retail centers, eCommerce websites, and they can operate on one platform.
Reduce the Risk of Errors
When you use separate systems in your organization, there can be a delay in communication due to syncing delays. As a result, it may lead to selling an item out of stock that can result in order fulfilment delays. It may even lead to losing a customer and affect your company’s reputation.
When you use a unified commerce system, you are accessing a centralised database used by warehouses and stores, and there will be no room for mismatches or discrepancies in data.
Staff Training Is Quick
When you use multiple systems in an organization, staff training becomes a lengthy process. It also prevents businesses from moving employees across departments. If you want to move any employee for a different role, the employee needs to undergo training for the system. Multiple systems also make temporary role shifting impractical and unprofitable for the company.
When you use a unified commerce solution, you need to train employees only once, and you can quickly move employees across departments or divisions as needs arise. Unified commerce solutions also reduce training costs and allow an organization to move staff across divisions to maintain operational efficiency.
Management Gets Accurate Information
Data is the gold mine of information, and critical business decisions are based on data collected by the systems. When you employ a unified commerce solution, management can get accurate information in real-time and act quickly to the changing market conditions.
360° View of Customers
Most retail chains have to upload daily sales and stock data every day to the head-office server. With such a setup, there is invariably a higher probability of incomplete or missing information. Things become worse when organizations do not have an integrated database for sales and customer information. The information of payments and sales per client is stored in separate databases, leading to duplicate records.
When you use a unified commerce solution, all information is stored in a centralized database, and associates at different locations can access data in real-time and derive greater value from it. For example, the stores’ management can know what customers are buying and what promotions deliver good results.
To sum up, these are some ways a unified commerce solution reinvents your business operations.
