One of our clients runs an import and distribution business, selling to both retail and wholesale customers right across the country. They use Unleashed to manage their stock, and it integrates neatly with their eCommerce website so products update automatically whenever something changes.
For a long time, everything looked to be running smoothly. The catch was that only the in-house admin team ever looked at the system. Customers couldn't see the products at all. If you wanted to order, you visited the store, picked up the phone, or arranged things directly with the sales manager. The system was never really put to the test by an outside set of eyes.
That all changed the moment the website went live.
What the shopper saw
As soon as we could browse the online store as a customer would, the picture changed completely. Stock management had been a little loose for quite some time, and there were no clear rules guiding how products should be loaded, named or organised.
Products that belonged together had ended up scattered across different categories. A simple typo or a slightly different name at the entry point would spin up a brand new category, so similar items sat miles apart. Spelling errors meant some products were duplicated, and others didn't show up at all.
For an online shopper, it was nearly impossible to browse. There were so many layers of categories, and so many with similar names but different products, that finding anything without an exact product code was a real struggle. With the naming being inconsistent, you couldn't even trust the search tool to help. The result was an online shop that wasn't paying its way, and despite a promising start, sales had stalled.
A proper review, then a proper tidy-up
This is where taking the time to look under the bonnet really mattered. We carried out an in-depth review of their stock management systems, which surfaced every one of those errors, duplications and stray categories.
Once we had tidied everything up, we didn't just leave it there and hope for the best. We adjusted Unleashed to build in some fail-safe functionality, reducing the amount of manual data entry and using dropdown menus and tick-box options wherever we could. The fewer chances there are to make a typo, the cleaner the data stays.
We also worked alongside the team to develop a Product Management Check Sheet. It sets out a clear hierarchy and a simple checklist for the admin team to follow every time they add, change or remove a product. Everyone now knows exactly how a product should be named and where it should sit.
The result speaks for itself
Within six months, online sales had grown by 270 percent, and they are still climbing month on month. For many of their regular customers, the website has become the preferred way to order.
There was a quieter win too. The in-house team are now far more confident, using their systems more accurately and efficiently, which saves the business even more in time and productivity.
We are not accountants, and we are completely independent, so when we assess a system we are only ever looking for what is genuinely right for your business. Sometimes that means a clean-up and some new rules. Sometimes the systems you already have are better than you think, and your team simply needs a little training to get the most out of them.
If your business software isn't quite paying its way, or you would like a fresh set of eyes on your stock system, get in touch. We are happy to take a look and share some recommendations for your consideration.