How to organize the automation of a stationery store and why you need it

Stationery is a consumable product, so trading in it can be profitable throughout the year. All organizations and manufacturing companies use such products. However, when selling goods not only at retail but also in small wholesale, there can be considerable competition. To increase their competitiveness, store owners use various methods. One of the most effective of them is store automation. It can significantly simplify warehouse accounting and increase sales.

The main problem is small goods

The peculiarity of outlets that sell stationery is that even a small stationery store can have more than 1000 items of goods. In large stores, there are even more types of products. When the products arrive at the outlet, each item must be assigned a certain price and a price tag must be affixed. When placing orders for suppliers, it is necessary to take into account how well a particular product sells. With such a variety of products, it is very difficult to remember all this data. These factors make product accounting quite complex and time-consuming. As a result, the sale of stationery and the formation of orders to suppliers are chaotic. At the same time, the needs of the store's customers are not taken into account.

Trading in stationery is associated with other additional difficulties:

• Small goods often do not have barcode packaging, so it is more difficult to keep warehouse records
• Different product categories are charged different margins, so pricing slows down when goods arrive
• If the product is sold in packages, it must be unpacked
• When conducting a manual inventory, you need to identify each item
• As a rule, stationery is sold in stores both in retail and wholesale (when sold to businesses)
• If there are competitors nearby, it significantly affects business profitability
• If a cheaper and more interesting store opens nearby, it can have a very bad impact on profits

Seasonality

Business is still characterized by a certain seasonality, which depends on the school year and holidays.

To solve many of these difficulties, you need to automate your stationery store. To do this, you need to buy a certain set of equipment, as well as install a special program that will make it much easier to keep track of products. Even small business owners can organize automation, as it will not require large expenditures.

Capabilities of automation programs

If you automate a point of sale, every store employee will feel positive changes in their work. Both the economic effect and practicality play a significant role here. The trading process will be simpler and more organized.

Opportunities for cashiers

• Most barcodes will be recognized automatically
• Products are easy to search by category
• You can easily issue a refund or adjust your purchase
• Sales information is automatically sent in the program for accountants
• If necessary, an electronic check is sent
• Payment can be made by electronic money or various bonuses
• The program controls the operation of all cash register equipment
• The time of purchase is controlled, and it is also possible to select a specific batch of products

Functions for the manager

• It is possible to create various reports, generate analytics of the store's work
• Customer database management is simplified
• If necessary, information on sales and availability of goods in warehouses is consolidated from several stores simultaneously
• For all employees, depending on the position, the program functions can be differentiated
• Ability to work with data remotely via a terminal connection or mobile application
• Accounting for discount cards issued to customers

Opportunities for accountants and store managers

• Create a calendar of requests for suppliers
• Debt control
• Semi-automatic formation of product orders. The program shows in what quantities a particular product was sold
• Access to data showing product balances
• Ability to set discounts on products
• Prices are automatically determined when goods are posted
• You can set a markup for each category
• To take an inventory, you don't have to print lists on paper
• Primary documentation is generated, which can significantly reduce the amount of laborious work

All these capabilities allow you to accept goods, make sales, take inventory, and perform other necessary work in the store much faster. This is not the whole list of functions that the Torgsoft automation program has. You can find out more about all the features in the relevant sections of the site, or by contacting the order department for advice.

Advantages of store automation

By automating the work of the store, an entrepreneur should receive additional income, as well as other important benefits. This is exactly the purpose of automation. As a result of such changes in work, the store owner receives various benefits that have both short-term and long-term effects. They help the business grow.

The main advantages of using the program of product and sales accounting are as follows.

• It becomes possible to optimize the assortment by ordering the products that sell best and bring more profit. Without automation, it is very difficult to track this among numerous products
• New employees will find it much easier to navigate the diverse assortment. They can also easily learn how to use the program
• Using various automatic methods of profitability analysis, you can make your business more successful
• Forming orders for suppliers can be much faster and easier
• Sales are also positively affected by the ability to maintain a customer base and issue discount cards
• No need to keep a large amount of paperwork
• Keeping records minimizes the possibility of error or fraud on the part of the seller.
• Inventory is carried out in a shorter period of time
• You can securely store important data
• Receipts reflect the cost of goods and a discount, so products are sold only at the current price
• It becomes much more difficult for employees to commit theft
• Sellers can evaluate the effectiveness of sales of different product groups
• Customer service is much faster
• The possibility of re-sorting is excluded
• The store owner can control all processes while being at home or away

Thanks to the high efficiency of the Torgsoft program, all automation costs are paid off quickly enough. This is a great opportunity to simultaneously get numerous convenient functions that facilitate the control of employees' work, as well as the management of all operations.

Required equipment

To be able to use all the functions of the automation program, you need to purchase the appropriate equipment. Its operation is synchronized with the program. When opening a store or automating an existing outlet, we recommend purchasing such equipment:

• Receipt printer
• Barcode scanners (depending on sales volumes). At least 1 for the cash register and 1 for receiving products and entering them into the database.
• Label printer
• Various auxiliary equipment and consumables
• Coffin box

By automating the store, an entrepreneur gets the opportunity to develop his or her business more efficiently. Administration takes less time, which allows you to open more outlets. The work of all stores can be controlled using a single program.

You can find out more about all the possibilities in the relevant sections of the website, or by contacting the ordering department for advice.