INDUSTRY WATCH

Most retailers will testify to the challenging times they ’ ve been operating in over the past five years . COVID-19 accelerated many of the changes that were already underway , and this has led to challenges around order fulfilment , lack of real-time insight into company-wide performance and activity , ineffective stock control , order processing , traceability and customer experience .

There has been a rush to digitalise and modernise operations in line with changing customer expectations , and a retailer now must try and manage multiple consumer demographics , marketplaces , orders , warehouses and stock items , and for all the data generated in the business to be integrated across a variety of platforms . For midmarket retailers , this is a particular challenge , as they can lack the resources to power such Digital Transformation .

Forterro supplies a range of ERP solutions to help , but the one most used by retailers is Orderwise . This provides customers with end-to-end operational and data visibility across different platforms , as well as third-party websites and couriers . This delivers real-time insights on performance , sales , stock levels and communication , which helps maximise sales performance . It can even aid compliance with industry standards by tracking and processing specialised industry information such as serial numbers , batch identifiers , source information and point of origin details .

But crucially , in a retail sector that grows increasingly competitive , it enhances customer service and increases upselling opportunities . You cannot underestimate the importance of customer experience for differentiation , and Orderwise monitors customer behaviours to create automated workflows and alerts for sales targeting to increase profits .

Can you provide examples of successful ERP implementations in retail businesses and describe what measurable benefits they achieved ?

In 2020 , they implemented Orderwise as a single , centralised , fully integrated ERP and WMS software solution , able to successfully manage its varying operations without the complications of multiple platforms . Obaby benefitted from company-wide access to accurate , real-time business data that was used to streamline operations and improve customer service .

Outbound orders grew 30 % year-on-year , with weekly order processing increasing by 25 %. Obaby no longer struggled to forecast and plan accurately , meaning it could approach expansion or any challenges to the business with confidence , based on up-to-date business data .

How does your ERP system integrate with existing retail technologies and platforms , such as POS systems , inventory management software and e-commerce platforms ?

ERP doesn ’ t work in isolation , and many retail customers require integration with various platforms . A smart retailer should connect its website , online stores , sales channels , warehouses , procurement and much more . Without it , a business relies on manual data entry across multiple systems , which is time-consuming and ineffective .

Proper integration across operations gives you the full end-to-end visibility essential in modern retail and e-commerce . The data insight and analysis can help increase margins , automate processes and improve customer service .

Jon Roberts is a Director at Orderwise ( Forterro ) and has worked with retailers for more than 20 years

We work with many midsized retailers across the UK and Europe . A favourite of mine is Obaby , one of the most in-demand and recognised baby brands in the UK , supplying major retailers such as Argos , Wayfair , The Very Group and JD Williams .

Furthermore , we offer the Orderwise Online Store . In a post-pandemic world , online shopping levels have remained high and managing cross-channel customer experiences is challenging . The Orderwise Online Store has a modular approach to features and

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