field merchandising

Implementing Sustainable Merchandising

In the factory-to-customer cycle, merchandising is one of the most wasteful processes. From the fuel consumed by field reps to the amount of paper used in traditional audits and surveys, on top of promotional and seasonal displays, it is easy to see why merchandising is considered “eco-unfriendly”.

 

A field merchandising app can make a world of difference when it comes to sustainability. By adopting a field merchandising app, CPG and FMCG businesses can expect the following:
  • Virtually eliminate the use of paper in in-store activities such as planogram checks, audits, surveys, and orders, among others. A state-of-the-art field merchandising app will also allow for instant access to the data collected, slashing the time and cost spent on data entry.
  • Considerable savings in rep travel time and fuel thanks to the route optimization functions of field merchandising apps that automatically calculate the shortest store rounds.
  • A cross-platform field merchandising app will allow reps to use the mobile devices they already own, eliminating the need to purchase new equipment.

As you can see, in an economy that demands sometimes significant cost cuts in order to achieve lean business operations, a field merchandising app can be invaluable not only when it comes to budget savings but also in reducing the environmental impact of merchandising activities.

VisitBasis Field Merchandising App is a complete mobile data collection solution designed to build, schedule and monitor field team activities in real time. It provides tools for all types of field merchandising activities, including planogram checks, audits, inspections, surveys, POS asset management, training, sampling and product demonstrations, among others.

Unleash Brand Growth with Field Merchandising Software

Field merchandising software can be an invaluable tool in unleashing brand growth and therefore increasing market share in consumer product goods (CPG). Through systematic retail audits done with the aid of field merchandising software, brand managers can have easy access to the specific aspects of their merchandising strategy and correct any deviations from a successful course of action.

Therefore, it is paramount that field merchandising software come with the ability to customize input forms, so field reps can quickly enter data on important retail parameters, such as the following:

  • Stock availability – No stock means no sale.  An out-of-stock also brings the risk of losing a customer and, with it, market share.
  • Price – Another important factor on market share. If a product is priced out of the range of its competitors, it might send a wrong message (Cheaply made? Too expensive?). Field merchandising software allows brand owners to swiftly act on correcting price discrepancies as soon as they are reported by field reps.
  • Shelf location – As a general merchandising rule, the products located at eye-level and closer to the center of the aisle will sell more, but prime space will cost more when negotiating with a retailer. Through photos, field merchandising software can help design and evaluate a shelf location strategy that best suits each brand.

 

VisitBasis was designed by merchandisers, for merchandisers. It is a complete field merchandising software solution that allows you to quickly and easily implement a cost-efficient point-of-sale data collection system with no need for technical knowledge.
You can schedule a VisitBasis Merchandising software demo by clicking here.
Watch the below video how VisitBasis Field Merchandising Software integrates with a chat solution that allows for instant notification of issues such as out-of-stocks, price discrepancies, and wrong shelving: