Buying Efficiency with Open-to-Buy Software and Retail Analytics

  • buying software retail analytics
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Introduction:

In today’s dynamic retail environment, access to accurate and comprehensive information is vital for successful buying decisions. Managers, planners, buyers, and allocators need powerful retail analytics tools to unravel the merchandise puzzle. Unfortunately, obtaining relevant data can be a challenge, especially when relying on manual processes or Excel spreadsheets. This blog post explores the importance of open-to-buy software, buying software, and retail analytics in streamlining inventory planning, omni-channel retail strategies, and merchandising efforts.

Open to buy on inventory planning:

For retailers striving to improve inventory planning and make informed buying decisions, open-to-buy software is a game-changer. This innovative tool provides real-time insights into inventory levels, sales trends, and customer demand patterns. By incorporating open-to-buy from your merchandise planning software into your operations, you empower your team to make data-driven decisions aligned with your business objectives.

Retail analytics with the retail omni channel:

Effective retail analytics play a critical role in understanding customer behavior and optimizing sales. By analyzing previous demand for different styles and tracking current trends, retailers can determine the right buy quantity for their assortment plans. However, having access to sales data alone is insufficient. Retail analytics tools enable you to delve deeper, examining product performance across various sales volume groups and omni-channels.

Retail analytics also give you efficient management roll-ups are vital for gaining insights into overall company or divisional assortment plans. Lack of visibility in this regard often results in overbuys or underbuys, compromising your financial goals. Enhancing management’s ability to quickly access comprehensive financial roll-ups helps align buying decisions with strategic goals.

Buying software and collaboration:

To ensure a seamless flow of information within the merchandising department, an up-to-date open-to-buy is essential. Any changes in the open-to-buy resulting from your merchandise financial plan should be promptly shared with everyone involved in merchandising. This collaborative approach ensures that planners have the latest information to make informed decisions.

See also: Maximizing Retail ROI: Unveiling the Strategic Benefits of a Rolling Open-to-Buy Approach

Omni-channel retail and assortment planning:

While buy review meetings provide an opportunity to assess assortment plans holistically, it’s crucial to consider each retail omni-channel’s unique requirements. Unfortunately, many buying organizations lack visibility into how each omni-channel affects the assortment. Neglecting this aspect may lead to unattractive results. Implementing robust retail analytics with your  buying software enables retailers to align their assortments with the specific needs of each omni-channel.

Retail buying software and data-driven decisions:

Buying decisions should be based on a combination of product suitability for the assortment and profitability. Retailers need the right information to understand how these decisions are made. While buyers’ expertise and intuition are invaluable, incorporating a data-driven approach is essential. Data-backed evidence complements their fashion knowledge and trend-spotting abilities. Estimations and gut feelings fall short when it comes to making decisions based on numbers.

Conclusion Buying software:

To overcome information gaps and facilitate smart, data-based buying decisions, retailers can take specific steps within the merchandising department. Implementing buying software that serves as a central hub fosters collaboration among managers, planners, buyers, and allocators, enabling seamless information sharing. Connecting systems and consolidating data in a dynamic manner ensures easy access to accurate information, facilitating analysis and interpretation.

Related Product

daVinci Assortment Planning

daVinci’s Assortment Planning solution gives merchants the power to tailor buys by the customer to improve sell-thru and ensure each assortment is profitable from the start.

Learn more about the product: daVinci Assortment Planning
Assortment management
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