15 Essential Tools to Use in Retail Stores for Better Management

Numerous SaaS-based tools are available nowadays that retail stores can use for better management. A wide variety of tools, ranging from Point-of-Sale (POS) software for sales reporting to employee attendance tracking, and all these tools facilitate better management of retail stores.  

These tools are designed to reduce the retail manager’s workload and the complexity associated with each retail operation. For instance, there are eLearning platforms that act as a central repository for all the training content required to prepare a new joinee. The employees can access the training material anytime and anywhere and serve customers better. 

Besides, there are some tools that make the audit process digital. The employees need to click the photo, upload it, and that’s it. The manager can send the PDF file to the stakeholders to continue the further processing. There is a checklist module available where the manager can create day-to-day checklists and send them to employees. The manager can get real-time insights into the progress of the tasks and assess the employee’s performance. 

Then, there is all-in-one software that combines all of the above-mentioned functionalities in one and streamlines a retail manager’s task. Let’s learn more about such tools that you should have in your retail store as a retail manager or owner. 

What are the Essential Tools to Use in Retail Stores for Better Management?

Here is a list of some essential tools to use in retail stores for better management.

1. Taqtics

Taqtics is an all-in-one retail operation management software that features a brilliant toolset exclusively designed for retail store operations. It can also be tailored to your business’s requirements and connected to other systems to accommodate a range of branches or growth. This allows Taqtics to adapt to your business’s growth and changing needs. 

Key Features 

1. Live-photo feature
2. e-learning to automate your stores’ training procedures
3. Issue ticketing system
4. Attendance management feature
5. Visual merchandising tool
6. Digital dashboards
7. Digital SOP Checklists

Free trial/demo availability: Available

Benefits:

• Access all of your retail outlets in real-time.
• Issue resolution turnaround times are specifically reduced.
• View the management team’s progress 
• Customizable to meet your company’s unique and specific requirements.

Drawbacks:

• The interactive dashboard can be enhanced
• Workflow management needs to be improved.

2. Repsly

Repsly is a retail management system designed to help retailers increase sales and operate at their best. Through its mobile app, staff members can access the platform while on the go and gather essential information about customers and the business. Area managers can use its manager’s dashboard to identify new opportunities and inspire their team to take action. 

Key Features 

1. Sales Tracking
2. Returns Management
3. Merchandise Management:
4. Customer Database
5. Inventory Management
6. Time and Mileage Tracking
7. Reporting and Analytics

Free trial/demo availability: Free trial available

Benefits:

• Get organized insights and data at the account level.
• Centralize field activity, in-store data, and sales for brands.
• Create a data-driven sales strategy by integrating Repsly’s Point of Sale Data.

Drawbacks: 

• Costly as compared to other tools.
• Atypical programming errors may arise.

3. Lightspeed

At Lightspeed, POS acts as the central point of many functions and services. It is a useful tool for physical stores with integrated inventory features, built-in sales reports, and synchronization across platforms. This system demonstrates the most effective CRM tools alongside the ability to improve loyalty and the selling process.

Key Features 

1. Unlimited inventory locations
2. Custom checkout fields
3. Third-party calculated shipping rates
4. Real-time cross-location inventory
5. Integrated POS
6. Brand and supplier performance
7. Manage customer records from multiple channels

Free trial/demo availability: Available

Benefits

• Requires single registration.
• Offers gift cards that can be used across multiple platforms.
• Provides reward points to encourage compliance.
• Allow payments using contactless technology.
• Maintain inventory and suppliers.

Drawbacks:

• It does not provide a free plan.
• It may require a challenging learning curve.

4. Clover

Clover Retail Management offers extensive services aimed at improving retail store processes. Some of them include the customer reward system, sales tools, and inventory tracking, which have been proven to help small businesses survive in today’s cutthroat market.

Key Features 

1. Add-on apps with inventory management
2. Built-in reporting tool with POS integration 
3. Customer engagement suite
4. PCI compliance 
5. Real-time data
6. Customer loyalty program
7. Targeted promotions and personalized offers

Free trial/demo availability: Free trial available 

Benefits:

• Businesses may improve their inventory management procedures by using Clover POS.
• Clover Retail Management’s user-friendly interface makes it ideal for small businesses across a range of industries.
• Help small businesses to enhance their store operations and maintain a competitive edge in the retail industry.

Drawbacks:

• It requires hardware that is exclusive to one processor and proprietary. 
• Depending on the provider, it may impose monthly software costs and payment processing fees.

5. Square

Square for Retail is an intelligent stock management tool that tracks sales velocity, suggests reorders and automates purchase orders. This system is designed to provide businesses with a fast and dependable POS solution. You can use it at the counter or while on the go to accept payments from clients using your iOS or Android smartphone. 

Key Features 

1. Customer Directory
2. On-the-go payments
3. Scheduling
4. Enhanced retail automation
5. Inventory management
6. Support and maintenance 

Free trial/demo availability: Free trial available

Benefits:

• It has built-in payment processing.
• It is simple to use and construct.
• It has transparent and clear pricing.
• It provides an extensive list of features and accessories.

Drawbacks:

• Not a perfect fit for larger stores, especially those with high sales volume.
• There have been some reported charging problems.

Additional Tools

Here are some additional tools to help you choose as per your requirements:

1. SimpliField

SimpliField helps you save a great deal of time and effort in task assignment and tracking when managing a retail business. This software was created especially to help you digitize your procedures and save time. This tool has significant features, such as Task Creation and Distribution, Task Execution & Monitoring, and Advanced Performance Analytics.

2. Heartland

POS links inventory, sales, and customer data to Heartland, making it possible for the retailer to manage online stores with the same efficiency as traditional stores. Some of the extraordinary features of the software include users building accurate reports for stock fundamental details and creating their own fields and grids for stocks. Other features that come with the software also encompass the integration of other systems, like email marketing, the eCommerce platform, and the integrated customer loyalty programs that are in the Heartland additions.

3. SafetyCulture 

SafetyCulture is an extensive tool that enables you to streamline your processes while remaining on top of staffing schedules. It allows you to assign tasks, create intricate workflows, and monitor employee productivity. This tool also allows all team members to communicate with each other quickly and efficiently, minimizing delays in the retail sector, which may be extremely costly to your company.

4. Oracle ERP

Oracle provides a suite of essential retail tools that assist merchants in formulating their strategy by highlighting present and future customer needs. Experiences with personalized marketing increase consumer trust and profitability. To be more specific, Oracle ERP helps retail operations by managing customers, inventory, sales performance, and financial information.

5. Microsoft Dynamics ERP

With an emphasis on retail shop operations, Microsoft Dynamics offers omnichannel sales, performance analytics, payment administration, fraud detection, and an easy-to-use, low-code platform. Microsoft Dynamics provides automated restocking and real-time inventory tracking to avoid overstocking or stock outages.

6. Brightpearl

Brightpearl’s retail operations platform is omnichannel native, built to manage peak trade, and interfaces with the whole retail tech ecosystem. Furthermore, according to the vendor, their solution is automated so users can maintain control and manage by exception. It serves as the system of record for important trading data and offers real-time trading insights.

7. Gofrugal

With an emphasis on ease of use and user experience, Gofrugal provides its retailers with automated operations that enable quick expansion with a limited number of employees. It offers its services for retail, restaurant, and distribution. Retailers may minimize waste and optimize their stock by reordering based on intelligent advice. 

8. Springboard Retail 

Springboard Retail represents retail management as well as a point-of-sale (POS) platform hosted in the cloud. This tool boasts extensive yet user-friendly business and operational solutions designed by true retailers who understand firsthand the changing needs of contemporary businesses in the fast-paced retail sector. Retailers may maximize corporate resources, increase efficiency, and raise sales by utilizing Springboard Retail’s Mobile Point of Sale (POS) and retail management solution.

9. Vend

Vend is a point-of-sale system for retailers of all types and sizes that operates on the cloud. Vend provides solutions for managing sales, inventory, customer information, and many more. Additional capabilities include sales reports, tracking customer information, inventory management, and Shopify interfaces.

10. Pipedrive

With Pipedrive’s retail CRM software, you can effortlessly monitor and control your sales processes. Optimize your retail sales while maintaining a seamless customer experience to increase client retention. Pipedrive collects data and presents it in reports that are customizable and easy to read. To find and interact with your potential clients, monitor progress, establish objectives for the entire store, and discover successful trends.

Conclusion 

Selecting the best retail management software tool is important for brands and shops. An efficient retail management system software includes all the features and tools that you need to run your retail store. With so many possibilities at your disposal, you must carefully choose which software solution is most appropriate for your business. 

Taqtics is an all-in-one store management software that provides a number of inventive features to streamline daily retail store operations. Manage your retail store operation with the help of all collective tools to streamline your business! Schedule a demo today! 

Soumyajit