store audit software

Beating the Competition, One Store at a Time

As strategists can tell us, knowledge is the most important thing if one wants to beat the competition.

For consumer product goods (CPG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCC), the battle for the customer’s wallet happens at the point-of-sale level, and this is why store audits are so important.

A store audit app will not only help field reps to more efficiently collect competitor information, but also allows brand and category managers to get faster access to this information and act swiftly to take advantage of opportunities and/or to prevent losing market share.

Among other benefits, a store audit app will provide the following competition monitoring tools:

  • The ability to schedule and plan regular visits in order to get the right competitor information at the right time.
  • Full customization of task forms and surveys, so the field rep will collect the exact information needed.
  • The power to capture photos, so not only pricing, and shelf count and position can be analyzed, but also packaging and seasonal displays and promotions.
  • A state-of-the-art store audit app will also allow for instant notifications of specific tasks so, for instance, a category manager can be notified when a field rep performs a task called “competitor price drop”.

VisitBasis Store Audit app is a complete retail audit solution that offers all the elements needed to perform mobile POS audits and surveys in one package.

Stay on top of your competition! Learn more at www.visitbasis.com. VisitBasis Store Audit app is available at Google Play and App Store and can be downloaded for free for an unlimited number of users.

 

How to Take Your Store Audits to the Next Level

Collecting audit information on several retail locations is a monumental task mainly due to the amount of data it generates.

Store audit software help retail businesses streamline the store audit process all the way from scheduling and planning visits to compiling data and generating reports.

More than merely reporting on past situations, though, state-of-the-art store audit software allows retail operations managers to view and act on audit findings in real time. For instance, it is possible to set up the store audit software so a manager will automatically receive a notification if one of the auditors finds an out-of-stock or a safety violation.

VisitBasis web-based checklist templates allow field reps to easily perform customized in-store tasks, spending less time on data collection and minimizing mistakes. All the data collected in the field, including photos, is GPS-confirmed and time-stamped to prevent fraudulent check-ins and reports.

With VisitBasis Store Audit Software, field team managers can easily monitor all field activities in real time using web-based dashboards and reports to identify situations that require their attention and receive automatic notifications of any critical findings.

Watch the below video to see how to set up automatic notifications on VisitBasis:

Interested in learning more about the most cost-effective store audit software in the market? Sign up for a VisitBasis free trial today!

Mobile Shelf Management Software to Automate Planogram Compliance Checks

What is a Planogram?

Planograms are visual representations of a store’s products or services that are developed and implemented by retailers to ensure that their products are in the right place, at the right price, with consistent branding.

Companies put much effort and spend money to negotiate the best shelf placement and promotion for their products. But any marketing strategy can break down in practice with multiple locations to monitor and significant amount of data to be analyzed.

How to Improve Planogram Checks Efficiency?

Today you can easily improve your planogram implementation using a retail audit software solution for tablets and smartphones. By leveraging personal mobile devices and the cloud mobile technology for retail audits performance a company can significantly improve store planogram compliance herewith reducing operational costs. So let’s compare two ways of planogram checks performance to identify the key benefits of retail audit software.

Key Steps of Traditional Planogram Compliance Audits

Performing visual planogram compliance check – take a photo of the shelf and make note, if necessary, in the paper-based report form. The photo should be later somehow transferred to the corporate database and assigned to the information about the audit.

Evaluating the quantitative parameters of the layout – manually count the number of facings, find missing products and measure shelf share. All the information is recorded manually and therefore an average planogram compliance check takes 30 – 60 minutes.

Reporting the results to the management – go to the office to transfer paper forms or start your computer to manually enter the information one more time and send it to the office.

Analyzing compliance checks performance – field team managers have to look through big amounts of data to make sure that all the checks were performed properly or even manually transfer data from paper reports to corporate database by themselves. As they become overwhelmed with more and more data workflow they simple don’t have time and enthusiasm to analyze trends to make strategic decisions.

Performing Planogram Compliance Audit Using Retail Audit Software

Performing visual planogram compliance check – make a photo to your tablet or a smartphone using built-in photo report. All the photos taken during an audit are GPS-confirmed and time-stamped and are instantly synced with the corporate database.

Evaluating the quantitative parameters of the layout – perform all the tasks using your tablet or a smartphone. All the data entry is completely automated (including numbers, text notes, photos, electronic signature, multiple choice of answers) that allows reducing compliance check time at least by 50%.

Reporting the results to the management – all the data collected at stores during planograms checks is instantly transferred to corporate database. Field teams managers can evaluate field activities and progress in tasks performance in real time and field reps have no need to visit the office to report results.

Analyzing compliance checks performance – all the data collected in stores is instantly available for analysis or integration with a corporate back-end system. Use powerful filters to get the exact information you need at the moment and export the results to the corporate database.

Now we can see that automated planogram compliance checks can significantly improve a company’s bottom-line due to a more effective use of field reps’ and field teams managers’ time. Besides, automated data entry reduces the number of errors and real-time data synchronization provides thousands of locations covered at ease.

www.visitbasis.com

Implementing a Software Solution for Store Audits Automation

Looking for retail audit automation solutions? VisitBasis Retail Audit Software allows you to organize your retail auditing process using PC, tablets and smartphones.

VisitBasis is a complete mobile data collection solution for managing, scheduling, and monitoring field team activities in real-time. It allows field operations managers to oversee all stages of the store audit, field merchandising and field sales processes, from assigning territories and scheduling visits/tasks to immediately retrieving results through VisitBasis online dashboard and reports.

How to Organize a Retail Audit Using VisitBasis Retail Audit Software?

Retail audit automation with VisitBasis is extremely fast and simple. See for yourself how easy it is to implement our retail audit software by following the steps below.

Step # 1

Register your free account at www.visitbasis.com. It takes less than a minute. After the registration is complete you get the immediate free access to our retail audit application and can start your retail audit automation free of charge.

Step # 2

Log in to the VisitBasis Application with the e-mail address used during registration and the password provided in the e-mail from VisitBasis after registration.

Step # 3

Add office managers and mobile field reps. Assign users to divisions and assign a security role to each user

Step # 4

Let your field reps to install the VisitBasis Retail Execution App on their tablets or smartphones. The VisitBasis App is downloaded free on Google Play and App Store for any number of users. To start using the application a field rep should use the e-mail address used in the office part of application when registering the user and the password received in e-mail from VisitBasis.

Step # 5

Save customer information on points of sale that have to be visited. The information may include address, contacts, installed equipment, documents attached, price lists and more.

Step # 6

Add products that have to be audited, split products into various product trees, attaching photos and adding additional properties.

Step # 7

Create task templates to define tasks to be performed at points of sale. The simple but powerful task builder allows creating various types of tasks with different types of answers (number, text, electronic signature, photo, multiple choice.

Step # 8

Schedule retail visits to the points of sale and optimize their routes to get the shortest route for the day.

Step # 9

Add tasks to each visit. All sheduled visits and tasks are instantly displayed in tablets and smartphones of tour field reps. Field reps can performs all the tasks paperless, using just their tablets or smartphones.

Step # 10

Monitor all field reps activities live on the map to get the clear picture of current retail conditions. All the data collected at points of sales is instantly displayed in the office part of application due to automatic synchronization. Verify visits and tasks execution live and monitor the progress of tasks performance.

Step # 11

Built analytic reports based on time-stamped and GPS-confirmed data. Get the exact information you need at the moment using sophisticated data filters and reg expression. Export reports to MS Excel and integrate easily with your back-end system.

Start your retail audits automation today with VisitBasis – a simple but powerful data collection solution that does not require installation or license purchase. Implement VisitBasis to your retail auditing process to improve the efficiency of your field team management.

www.visitbasis.com

Free Retail Audit Checklists Templates

Tired of paper-based checklists and hours of data entry? Use VisitBasis mobile checklists templates to create and assign checklists for everything that needs to be checked, to respond to emerging issues, to and track field team performance.

Empower your field reps to be more productive with VisitBasis mobile checklist software platform so they are able to complete tasks and perform checks on their tablets and smartphones – even offline. Retail data can be collected using offline devices and be automatically synced when the Internet connection is established so your field reps don’t have to worry about the connection.

The VisitBasis tools for paperless checks include:

  • Visit calendar
  • Product catalog
  • Customer information
  • Route optimization
  • Customizable task templates with different types of answers
  • Built-in photo-reports
  • Barcode scanner
  • Electronic signature
  • Automatic synchronization

VisitBasis web-based checklists templates allow field reps to easily perform all the variety of tasks spending less time on data collection and minimizing mistakes. Your field reps can collect richer data attaching photos to the tasks performed, making notes and adding GPS-coordinates of the place where the task was performed. All the data collected in the field, including photos, is GPS-confirmed and time-stamped to prevent fraudulent check-ins and reports.

Field teams managers can easily monitor all field activities in real time using web-based dashboards and reports to identify situations that require your attention.

The VisitBasis mobile audit checklists templates allow you to completely automate any of these types of checks:

  • Safety inspections
  • Quality of service
  • Store compliance
  • Competitor’s analysis

Get started faster with VisitBasis mobile checklist templates, for free. Just register at www.visitbasis.com, open the VisitBasis App in your browser, and begin creating your checklist templates absolutely free. The VisitBasis App for your field reps’ mobile devices can be downloaded free on Google Play and App Store for any number of users.

Top Benefits of Retail Compliance Software

To start retail auditing you have to provide your field managers with guidelines for what is to be done, to define store visits frequency and to determine channels for delivering store audit data back to the office. Retail audit software can help to increase the efficiency of retail operations and improve field reps productivity.

When you adopt VisitBasis retail audit software you can expect the following benefits:

  • Fast and accurate data collection – VisitBasis retail audit software helps to collect store data in a more efficient way. The VisitBasis Retail Execution App allows companies to replace paper forms with mobile forms and to capture data with ease. All the data collected in stores is instantly synced with corporate database and can be further integrated with any back end system.
  • Easier collaboration, globally – VisitBasis provides retail data centralization and aggregation allowing field reps and field team managers to collaborate within a single corporate system. Since VisitBasis retail audit software is a Google Cloud implementation it provides 24/7 access to corporate database from anywhere.
  • Data-driven decision-making – VisitBasis retail audit software helps field team managers to make better decisions by getting real-time data from points of sale with web-based dashboards and generating reports that are always up to date. Field reps can also share the reports via e-mail.

VisitBasis retail audit software is a complete data collection solution to for managing, scheduling, and monitoring field team activities in real-time. VisitBasis offers the following advantages:

  • Visits and tasks can be scheduled by the office or on the mobile app
  • Field reps or office managers can optimize customer routes
  • Office managers visually assign stores to field reps, using a map
  • Field reps have access to all data offline and can execute tasks without an Internet connection
  • Unlimited photos can be collected and uploaded to the office
  • Fraud prevention by GPS tracking of all field activities
  • Product catalog and orders/returns with multiple price lists and must-stock lists
  • Field reps can switch from one mobile device to another during the workday without losing any data

The main competitive advantage of VisitBasis retail audit software is that you can get it completely free. Just register at www.visitbasis.com, download free mobile app on Google Play or App Store and you are ready to start your retail audits automation.

Please watch the demo videos to see for yourself how a retail audit software solution can help to improve your field team performance.

Retail Audit Software

Retail Audit App

The Benefits of Cloud-Based Retail Audit Software

Cloud software can specifically benefit retail businesses with features such as order and returns management, field marketing, merchandising, and retail audits, providing ultimate customer visibility and excellent IT support. Apparently, cloud software for retail audits saves your business money by eliminating overall IT costs.

Here are the top benefits of retail audit software:

  • Improve accessibility. You can store your retail data completely free when you opt for Cloud-based retail audit software. The up-to-date data collection SaaS providers usually offer Cloud storage as part of their service. The additional advantage of storing data in the Cloud is that all the data can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device.
  • Reduce capital expenses. Choosing a SaaS data collection solution allows companies to avoid the extra costs of server and IT support. BYOD implementation permits to reduce communication costs and to completely eliminate the cost of hardware. Instead of the company purchasing tablets and smartphones, the employee uses their own devices to perform data collection. Besides saving on hardware, you save time and money on staff training and your field reps can be more effective using a device they already get used to. Pay-as-you-go pricing allows only paying for what you use. This pricing model is trendy, dynamic and allows the most flexible pricing so a company can start data collection automation taking on very little up-front risk.
  • Streamline your business processes. Retail audit software provides more work done with less people. All the data collected in stores is immediately synced with the corporate database. Retail data collection software allows you to coordinate all the stages of your data collection operations to improve your retail management and enhance the productivity of your field reps.
  • Use company’s resources in the most efficient manner. Implementing Cloud software for store audits you increase business effectiveness and reduce time spent on operational issues, concentrating on the things that matter. Your field reps can easily perform retail audits using their own tablets and smartphones and your field team managers are able to analyze all the retail data as soon as it is collected with activity dashboards and reports.

VisitBasis is a complete mobile retail audit software solution. It is a Cloud-based SaaS solution for retail audits that allows field operations managers to oversee all stages of the retail audit from assigning territories and scheduling visits to immediately retrieving results through VisitBasis online dashboard and reports. Start you retail audit automation completely free today after registering at www.visitbasis.com.

You can also watch the demo videos to see for yourself how a retail audit software solution can help to improve your field team performance.

Retail Audit Software

Retail Audit App

The Benefits of Cloud Solution for Retail Auditing

Today retailers try to find new ways to reduce costs and increase productivity. Many benefits can be achieved by going paperless and integrating mobile technology into business processes. For example, if a company implements paperless retail audits its data storage costs can be significantly reduced or even brought to zero. Store data collected using retail audit software requires much less space than paper sheets and therefore costs less money. Moreover today you can even store your retail data completely free if you opt for Cloud-based data collection software. The up-to-date data collection SaaS providers usually offer Cloud storage as part of their service.

The additional advantage of storing data in the Cloud is that all the data can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device. Your field reps can easily perform retail audits using their own tablets and smartphones and your field team managers are able to analyze all the retail data as soon as it is collected with activity dashboards and reports. If you adopt a Cloud solution for retail audits you can count on the best service availability even if your company is multinational and runs in different countries and time zones.

Here are some more benefits of Cloud-based retail audit software to improve the efficiency of operations and increase productivity:

  • Reduce spending on software and infrastructure. Cloud solutions for store audit performance allow companies to maintain easy access to corporate information with minimum upfront spending. Adopting a SaaS retail audit software solutions a company saves on IT-support and server hardware.
  • Globalize you retail operations at ease. Field reps and field team managers worldwide can access the cloud database 24/7. Being on the Cloud also makes it possible for field reps to work offline, and the system will automatically synchronize once an Internet connection is established.
  • Monitor operations more effectively. Cloud-based retail audit software allows field operations managers to oversee all the stages of the retail audit from assigning territories and scheduling visits to immediately retrieving results through web-based dashboard and reports. All the information is time-stamped and GPS-confirmed.

VisitBasis retail audit software is a complete retail management system to manage your business with ease. VisitBasis runs in the Cloud, which means your retail data is accessible to you at any time, from anywhere. It works on common Android and iOS tablets and smartphones allowing BYOD implementation to reduce hardware costs to your company. Easy access to corporate data provides better business decisions to run your business more strategically and effectively.

VisitBasis retail audit software is extremely easy to deploy – and you can start it completely free. Just register at www.visitbasis.com, download free VisitBasis retail Execution App on Google Play or App Store and start performing retail audits in the most efficient manner free of charge.

You can also watch the demo videos to see for yourself how a retail audit software solution can help to improve your field team performance.

Retail Audit Software

Retail Audit App

Retail Audit Best Practices

Companies of all kinds conduct retail audits to to provide documented verification that point-of-sales meet corporate compliance policy and marketing strategies are properly implemented at stores. To start retail auditing you have to provide your field managers with guidelines for what is to be done, to define store visits frequency and to determine channels for delivering store audit data back to the office.

Many companies don’t use retail audits data effectively, especially when using paper-based audits or relying on all-purpose software like MS Word or Excel. This results in loosing part of retail audit data, fraudulent reports, time gaps between a store visit and appropriate company’s actions. Others spend too much money on retail audit software so the costs of software overweight the gains made from using it. Here are the best practices that can help companies maximize the value and efficiency of retail audits.

Use SaaS software applications to organize the retail audit data. A great number of retail audit tools and software solutions empower field reps to perform audits faster helping field team leaders to manage tasks and assignments, ease collaboration and track goals in a more efficient manner. Picking out SaaS solutions definitely makes sense because you can access it anywhere, your field sales reps can get the information they need on the go, and all the data is synchronized automatically.

Opt for retail audit software with CRM capabilities. There are many retail audit tools on the market these days and many of them have, in addition to standard territory management, CRM capabilities and/or the possibility to connect with existing CRMs through APIs and export/import.

Move your retail audit data to the Cloud. If you adopt a Cloud solution for retail audits you can count on the best service availability even if your company is multinational and runs in different countries and time zones. Being on the Cloud also makes it possible for field sales reps to work offline, and the system will automatically synchronize once an Internet connection is established.

Make data-driven decisions using analytic tools. Retail audit software solutions don’t end with streamlining workflows and CRM providing team leaders with an opportunity to receive instant reports and manage operational priorities in real time. The web-based dashboards and reports help you identify productive employees and perform workflow analysis, taking informed strategic decisions using reliable up-to-date data.

See for yourself how retail audit software can help your company’s retail operations – sign up today at www.visitbasis.com!

Or follow the links below to learn how it works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dovNBR7gc8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MntvfMdrYRk

Audit and Retail Operations Software.

Retail companies have to know the competitive environment at all times. That is why retailers need systematic and standardized store audit program to maximize brand integrity across stores. Effective retail audits also strengthen a store’s operational performance and increase productivity.

When retail audits are provided by third parties they are often not tailored enough specifically to the needs of every company. Besides, traditional retail audits don’t provide real-time data about store’s performance. You never know how your stores are doing at this very minute. But if you adopt a real-time cloud software solution for retail audits you will.

Advanced technologies make conducting your own retail audits easier and more affordable than ever. The VisitBasis Retail Audit App gives field reps easy access to all merchandising and sales data and tools required to perform in-store activities and allows them to collect critical information for store performance analysis.

When you conduct your own retail audit using the VisitBasis Retail Audit App, you get timely and accurate data about your product distribution. Your field reps can perform all the necessary tasks using their tablets and smartphones, answering to survey questions, taking pictures, scanning bar-codes, making notes.

Run your planogram checks, promotion and price compliance audits, product display photo audits, shelf spacing and product face counting tasks.

The VisitBasis Retail Audit App works seamlessly across iPhones, iPads and Android smartphones and tablets. VisitBasis runs on Google Cloud and is a secure and robust system. It can work offline and then synchronize automatically once online.

Save time and money conducting your own retail compliance audits with VisitBasis! Make retail compliance and store auditing as easy as possible. Just register account at www.visitbasis.com and start work free. Download the VisitBasis Retail Audit App on Google Play and App Store for any number of users.

To learn more about making your own store audits easy, please, follow the links below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZWt3oVNgmU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P8-W438QX0