Complete Retail Solution, What should a complete retail management software have?

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Point of Sale (POS) and Store Management module:

• POS interface with Tag readers/Card readers/Printers/Cash Drawers


• Automated change of SKU description, prices from POS server/SMS server (Info from HQ)


• Day end/shift end Account consolidation functionality with Store front associate id


• Trigger based Data transfer to POS server or SMS server and vice versa


• Self Diagnostics and error warning system


• POS or Till Training (simulation) software


• Day end report generation with Cash reduction and irregular drawer openings monitoring


• Module specific reports and Maintenance

Merchandise Management (MM):

• Merchandise nomenclaturing, hierarchy generation/mapping, item maintenance and grouping tools


• Category and Assortment Management, product mix optimization with private label initiative


• Purchasing, vendor selection, management and contracts and ordering


• Forecasting, channel’s requirement consolidation and merchandise allocation


• Vendor Managed Inventory initiative, automated ordering and CPFR initiative


• Merchandise financial tracking using SL interface with GL. Monitoring vis a vis purchasing budgets


• Manage the lifecycle of promotions, store openings, new product introductions, and other special events to improve promotions planning and execution


• Optimization for use of space—from a macro space level, and translating it into executable space plans for the highest possible return on inventory investment.


• Optimization of markdowns to maximize revenue and profit


• Create exception rules through a point and click interface for business issues like out–of–stock conditions, excessive forecast errors


• Module specific reports and Maintenance

Finance and Accounting (F&A):

• A standard Finance and Accounting Package/Application can be interfaced with the Retail Application modules delineated above. This F&A module needs the following capabilities


• Interface with POS Sales, Store Overheads, Misc Account


• AP,AR,GL and HO overheads


• Functionality of Working Capital Mngt. (including –ve working capital), Advertisement Expenses, Capital Investment amortization, depreciation


• Interface with HR (Human Resources) module for flow of HR and recruitment costs


• Module specific reports and Maintenance

Supply Chain Management:

• Third Party Logistics (TPL) vendor coordination and performance monitoring


• Inventory tracking and receipts vis a vis purchase orders


• Cross docking with mapping for supplier article interfacing


• Warehouse management with Pallet inspection, assortment creation and tagging facility


• Order – Receipt matching at Central Procurement office as well as channel/store level


• Actual Lead time capture matrix


• Create a network for receiving defective and excess products back from customers and supporting customers who have problems with delivered products


• Module specific reports and Maintenance

Customer Relationship (CR)

• Customer information capture for data analysis


• Point of Sale (POS) information Analysis & campaign management


• Point of Purchase Enhancement System


• Customer Feedback/complaints capture and implementation


• Loyalty Enhancement and Management system


• Module specific reports and maintenance

Human Resource Management (HRM)

• Time and labor management with scheduling and days of rotation


• Multiple means of entering time of work


• HR self services


• Payroll, configurable validations and approvals


• Learning management and advanced benefits


• Module specific reports and maintenance

Real Estate (RE)

• Decision Matrix for branch/store location and distribution center


• Lease/Ownership contracts information


• Amortization of Capital expenses and interface with Finance and Accounting module


• Repairs and value preservation


• Facilities Management

Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence
BI – Reporting Layer

1. Financial KPI’s




• GMROII


• Turnover


• Inventory Days


• Working Capital


• Cash Flow


• Selling Cost





2. Customer Performance




• Total Spend


• Average Transaction Value


• Items per ticket


• Frequency, Profitability


• Market Basket





3. Product Performance




• Private Label v/s Branded


• GM


• Maintained GM


• Balance of Business





4. Store Performance




• Sales per sq. ft.


• Stock Coverage


• Footfalls


• Conversion rate


• Average Transaction Value


• Items per ticket


• Shrinkage and Out of Stock