10 ways you should be managing stock and sales over several shops (including web-stores)

If you're running more than one shop, it's easy to lose track of what stock is where, who needs to order what and where stock needs to go when it comes in. Then there's the problem of inputting stock purchases into each store's figures so that you know exactly what the stock is worth at all locations.

And what if you want to see what stock is in another store, do the shops have to check with head office first? And then how do you transfer stock from one location to another? Does your current system even allow you to do that?

And then there's stocktaking – hard enough as it is – how do you know what staff should be looking for?

There's plenty of room for error if your stock system isn't truly integrated for multiple stores.

bsmart² was designed from the ground up for managing both single shop and multi-store jewellery retail businesses.

You need a full business process

bsmart² takes care of all that

Here are 10 ways in which bsmart takes care of your multi-outlet operation:

• 1 - Uses standard (and common) stock numbers across all locations
  
  

  Some systems may assign a completely different part number when transferring stock to a different shop, leading to confusion, errors and disparate reporting.
  
  bsmart eradicates this issue completely – stock numbers are common across all locations – it's simply not possible to create different stock numbers for the same item. All data originates from head office.

• 2 - Gives any store the ability to look up stock in any other store
  

  Shop staff can instantly check where stock is available, without needing to check with Head Office. This keeps the customer warm and retains the sale. Staff can request a transfer should the customer wish to proceed with the sale.

• 3 -Centralises ordering for all stores
  

  Stock can be ordered centrally or by store based on pre-defined stock levels or on sales activity to ensure adequate cover is always held. This provides ample control yet simplifies the monitoring and ordering of predictable lines.

• 4 - Maintains a single point of stock distribution & pricing
  

  Enter one invoice (in original currency – no need to manually convert) on head office, price and distribute to stores, including new tickets for existing stock which has increased in price. No need to enter stock on each store system, so it's a much simpler and more controlled process.

• 5 - Makes it easy to transfer stock between branches
  

  Full audit trail, email requests, in-transit option and discrepancy management with the option of updating of accounts.

• 6 - Works from one integrated set of accounts
  

  All your individual business location data can be reconciled and available at any time. Integrates with bsmart² Accounts, or exports data to Sage or Xero systems (optional modules).

• 7 - Analyses supplier performance
  

  Get an overall view of performance, by department, category and price band to see what's selling and what's not.

• 8 - Provides a full and instant analysis of all store performance from bsmart
  

  Thanks to a comprehensive analysis at company and location level with the ability to report on selected branches within the group. Even if you're not in the office, the Bransom Live Sales Analyser allows you to view sales from any location using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC, Mac, iPad...

• 9 - Makes Stocktaking easier - Stocktake at multiple stores simultaneously
  

  Know what stock your staff should be looking for at each location. Centralise reconciliation and valuations live without manually entering data from stores.

• 10 - Updates prices and information from suppliers automatically through bsmart-links
  

  Save hours of typing by using bsmart-links to import supplier information and prices. Why have every store spend time doing the same thing? Any updates are reflected across all stores automatically – no local input required.

In addition:

• Integrates Online stores quickly and efficiently
  Web sales update central stock and accounts automatically. No need to enter data twice.
• Audits all transactions from store to balance sheet
• Relax - Delivers a full VAT Audit Trail
• Gathers vital Business Intelligence
• Controls data security via user access levels

Now take a look at your current system. Is it giving you this flexibility, or allowing you to work faster and smarter? Don't suffer the frustrations and errors that a non-integrated system gives you. Talk to us and let us help you move to a bsmart solution.