As retailers emerge, bruised and battle-worn from the pandemic, the intense pressure to adapt to future disruptions is inescapable. It’s time for digital transformation. Omnichannel order management and Ship from Store systems are now top of the investment plan. But the news isn’t grim. These changes have given us a spectacular opportunity to improve retail and eCommerce and come out on top. So let’s look at what it all means and how to choose the best order management system for your retail business to maximise profits and growth – and avoid costly mistakes.
Omnichannel commerce (or retail) is more than a buzzword. Apart from an intelligent operations system, it’s a genuine reflection of today’s rapidly evolving retail trends and post-pandemic world. And, it’s beautiful — a seamless process resulting in better customer experiences and loyalty, increased traffic and sales and outrageously useful data collection.
Plus, a powerful omnichannel system enables you to be lockdown-ready.
Right now, omnichannel is a competitive advantage. But it’s also the future. So choosing a focused, feature-rich and flexible solution may be one of the best business investments you make. However, you must do your homework and choose a solution that works for your business – and can grow with you.
First, let’s do some box-ticking. Do you answer (or will you soon be answering) ‘yes’ to the following questions?
If so, you’re on the right page. Now, let’s cover some common questions.
POS software is at the heart of all omnichannel solutions. Traditionally, POS (point of sale) software referred to anything that takes the customers’ money — like the cash register.
Today, ‘POS software’ has become a catchphrase covering the front-of-house software that shop staff use, right down to back-office functionality. That includes inventory management, suppliers, fulfilment/delivery, marketing, pricing, loyalty programs, stock levels, reporting — the whole enchilada.
But now, retailers need to integrate their eCommerce platforms with their retail store POS systems. You’ve heard the phrase: ‘bricks and clicks’.
So how do we integrate these ‘bricks and clicks’? We do it through omnichannel order management software. And it can get pretty fancy (in a good way).
Omnichannel — or omnichannel retail — refers to a type of retail that integrates different point of sale methods to customers (e.g. online, click to collect, in-store). When this happens seamlessly, it’s a retailer’s dream.
Omnichannel order management is the system that makes this happen. It simplifies the process of customers ordering, collecting, receiving or returning their goods. Today, consumers want their goods faster than ever. On the day. Without fuss.
They shop online, see a product and want to purchase. Maybe they want to see it in the flesh. Which store has it? Can they Click and Collect? Can they buy it online? How fast will they get it? Is there same-day delivery? If there’s a store near them, can you ship from there?
A powerful omnichannel order management system and Ship from Store solution allow you to do all this and more. (NB: This is a massive step above having terrific eCommerce order management software. The difference? This software combines inventories from both ‘bricks and clicks’.)
Incidentally, according to Power Retail, 54% of (Aussie) shoppers have had an order cancelled by the retailer as it wasn’t available. That’s a lot of lost income.
‘Ship from Store’ means the goods are shipped from the most nearby store, not a warehouse. So, omnichannel Ship from Store is when orders are dispatched after coming from any channel — online, another store or maybe a phone sale. It’s one smart fulfilment strategy.
According to our recent omnichannel benchmarking study of 22,000 stores, many brands have yet to become Ship from Store retailers. But make the transition, and you can enjoy:
Notably, according to Australia Post’s August 2021 Inside Australia Online Shopping - eCommerce update, young shoppers are interested in buying sustainably.
“As a growing Australian retailer, I was consistently disappointed with the features and support I was getting from POS system vendors. They promised the world and delivered mediocrity.”
– Aaron Blackman, founder and CEO of Retail Express
There are many order management systems on the market, so take the time to explore and understand their functionality before committing.
The #1 POS software in Australia and New Zealand, Retail Express, was created 15 years ago by retailers, for retailers. As a consumer trend-conscious retailer, Retail Express CEO Aaron Blackman was disappointed with the features and support he received from POS vendors. To find a successful POS solution that could adapt to shopper interests and demands, he consulted with hundreds of others, then set out to create his own.
Retail Express is an adaptable and powerful cloud-based POS system that allows you to unlock your full potential in-store and online. There are no clunky desktop applications, no system crashes, no data poll issues, no headaches. And it allows you the flexibility to grow and change.
Retail Express gives you three key features to help you grow:
1. A cloud-based software platform: This covers both front-of-house POS (software for your sales staff) and a full suite of back-office tools to maximise your business:
2. Integrations: A key element to today’s retail, Retail Express integrates with:
3. Expert implementation and support – you’re assigned a dedicated Australian-based retail expert as your project success manager who guides you through every step of the software set-up. And, you’ll receive ongoing phone and email support from Australian-based retail experts that understand the industry.
A powerful, sophisticated, feature-rich OMS (order management system) won’t let you down. When choosing the best order management system for your brand, think about the following:
Omnichannel order management and a slick Ship from Store system can give your business massive gains — and ensure you're meeting customers’ needs for a fast and sustainable service. Get in touch today. Retail Express can give you a free benchmarking scorecard report on your business and a free personalised demo.
Australia Post: Inside Australian Online Shopping - eCommerce update (Released: August 2021) https://auspost.com.au/content/dam/auspost_corp/media/documents/2020-ecommerce-industry-report.pdf
Power Retail: Report: December to be Biggest Online Shopping Quarter on Record. Are you Prepared? https://powerretail.com.au/insights/report-december-to-be-biggest-online-shopping-quarter-on-record-are-you-prepared/