The role of digitalization in the retail supply chain


In the digital age, the retail supply chain is constantly changing. An efficient and transparent supply chain is essential to meet customers' increasing expectations and remain competitive when working in retail. Therefore, the retail supply chain, in particular, has undergone a comprehensive digital transformation in recent decades.
 
If your company is not already involved in a complete digitization of the supply chain, on this page, you can get advice and guidance on how to use digital technology to optimize and improve your supply chains with a focus on two tools tailored to retail: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and LS Retail.
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3 typical retail supply chain challenges

Before we delve deeper into the role of digitalization, let's first look at some of the challenges you typically face as a retailer in the supply chain:

1. Demand Variation


You have to deal with changes in demand for your products in relation to seasons, trends, and promotions, making it challenging to predict and meet needs.

1. Inventory Management

Finding the right balance between inventory and costs is a constant challenge. A wrong stock status can have financial consequences.


3. Data and traceability

Lack of traceability and generally of transparent data can lead to inefficiencies and a lack of overview of the supply chain.




THE ROLE OF DIGITALISATION IN THE RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN

Digital technology plays a crucial role in solving the three challenges mentioned above, and the two central tools, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and LS Retail, can, with the right advice and sparring, help you solve these challenges.
 
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an integrated business management solution that enables retailers to streamline processes. Key features include:
 

1. Demand planning: Using advanced analytics tools, Business Central helps retailers predict demands more accurately, so you don't end up with items on your hands you can't sell or, conversely, have too few items relative to the demand. Thus, you avoid unnecessary costs

2. Efficient inventory management: By optimizing orders and turnover rate, you get a more accurate management of inventory.
 

3. Data integration: Business Central integrates all aspects of the supply chain through real-time data and traceability and creates transparency in your data. It helps reduce errors and improves the efficiency of your entire business.

Combine Business Central with LS Retail and get a complete solution for retail

LS Retail is a comprehensive software solution tailored for retailers and restaurants that sits on top of Business Central, so you can let data flow through everything from warehouse and logistics over your webshop and all the way to the checkout solution in the store. With LS Retail you get features like:

STORE MANAGEMENT

LS Retail allows for easy management of stores and online channels from one central platform. This makes it easier to maintain consistency and efficiency throughout the supply chain.

CASH REGISTERS

The solution helps retailers handle payments and improve the customer experience at checkout by offering a simple and intuitive checkout solution that is integrated with the entire supply chain.

LOYALTY PROGRAMS

If you want to increase customer satisfaction and strengthen your relationship with customers, LS Retail also contains tools to create and manage customer loyalty programs.

THE FUTURE OF THE RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN

Retail is often one of the industries that is most advanced when it comes to the digitization of processes, as customers constantly expect better customer experiences. Digital technology such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and LS Retail has revolutionized – and will continue to revolutionize – the retail supply chain by offering effective solutions to address challenges and improve processes.
 
The future offers even more integration, automation, and use of data analytics to predict demand and optimize inventory. This will lead to more efficient and sustainable supply chains, benefiting both retailers and their customers. The combination of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and LS Retail helps create the necessary and efficient supply chains in an increasingly competitive industry. 
 
If you would like to know more about how you can streamline your supply chain through digitalization, please contact twoday RelateIT. We offer a non-binding round, where we review your company's processes and talk about how they can be optimized.

Let's succeed together


twoday RelateIT has many years of experience supporting successful retailers with their digital transformation. See, for example, in this video, how Plantorama takes advantage of the digital opportunities.
 
 
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