Mobile technology has recently caused a revolution in merchandising, to the point that, now, retail audit software has become indispensable. But what should brand and category managers look for in such an application? Here are some of the most important features of retail audit software for merchandising:
- Customizable forms
Every business has their own needs, and every product category has its own individual characteristics. Therefore, while dairy products might need frequent retail to check for expired items, cleaning products will need to be checked for spills – and so forth. Retail audit software that allows fully customizable forms will adapt to those individual category audit needs. - Photo capture
One of the factors that make mobile retail audits so revolutionary is that they allow office-based brand and category managers to actually see what is going on in each store – even if they are scattered all over the world. - Customizable distribution lists
Product selection normally changes by retail chain, but can also vary by store. Retail audit software that allows for those variations in distribution and must-stock lists will make it easier and faster for reps to perform the audits, since tasks will be tailored to each store’s product selection. - Real time reporting
Once a rep completes a retail audit on their mobile device, data is synchronized. Therefore, instead of waiting days for a report, managers have instant access to the collected information – leading to faster resolution of mission-critical issues such as out-of-stocks and damaged merchandise. - Data exchange options
Retail audit software must be flexible when it comes to data exchange: While an audit summary report in PDF might be necessary with the fulfillment department to justify an extra shipment, a brand manager will probably need hard data in Excel format in order to generate charts for a board presentation.
VisitBasis retail audit software offers all the above and more: Schedule an online demo right away!
To try our data collection software for free register at www.visitbasis.com and download the VisitBasis Retail Audit App FREE on Google Play or App Store. To learn more about how our field merchandising system works request a demo or check the links below to watch the demo videos.
