The Advantages of Taking Your Retail Business To the Cloud
Cloud computing can benefit nearly any industry, but notably, it’s gained popularity in the business world—and for good reason. A virtual network allows retailers to streamline their operations both within physical stores and across the entire company. With better communication, efficient technology, enhanced security, and more, retail companies can revolutionize their system and create a better experience for employees and customers alike. Furthermore, utilizing cloud point of sale (POS) systems allows businesses to break free of traditional sales limitations and create a scalable, customizable system. There’s no telling how far your business can go with the constant innovation of cloud services. Learn more about how this can benefit your company with this rundown of the advantages of taking your retail business to the cloud.
Revolutionize the Shopping Experience
Let’s begin with the cloud benefits your customers will experience. Cloud networks can revolutionize the shopping experience through customer relationship management software and an enhanced POS system. The former allows employees to create and update comprehensive customer profiles. This helps customer service representatives communicate and work together to meet a customer’s needs. For example, if a customer enters the store looking for an outfit to wear to a graduation ceremony, the associate helping them can fill out information such as sizes, preferred colors, and price range. While one associate helps the customer in person, others can use this information to search through other sections of the store for shoes, accessories, and items the customer can try. This allows store employees to provide thorough but efficient service for customers.
Cloud systems can also store helpful customer information such as rewards profiles or preferred methods of payment, making the checkout process simpler than ever. Moreover, a cloud-based POS system doesn’t suffer the same physical constraints that traditional systems do. This gives you more leverage when designing the physical layout of your store. Instead of a large checkout area, employees can use mobile devices to conduct transactions anywhere on the floor. This allows you to streamline the checkout process and reduce wait times for customers.
Easy and Accessible Supply Chain Visibility
Out-of-stock items, slow deliveries, and missing products can be a real headache for retailers. Consolidated cloud networks take the mystery out of your supply chain. Store managers can easily access inventory information, including records from suppliers, tracking information, and more. This greater visibility allows retailers to assess each element of the supply chain to find where something went wrong. This results in an optimized inventory system with fewer out-of-stocks and real-time location data for items across all of your stores. Customer service associates can quickly and easily access backroom inventory or track an online order for customers. Store owners can analyze supply chain trends to come up with solutions for improvement. Overall, the cloud boosts supply systems and offers a better capability for handling inventory.
Improved Cloud Communication
Both external and internal communication are essential for running a smooth retail business. Cloud-based POS systems and other communication options enhance the way your employees talk to each other and customers. Efficient cloud-based software allows employees to address customer concerns quickly and thoroughly. If a customer has a question, complaint, or other need, employees can document it immediately. Furthermore, any employee with access to the cloud network—on a mobile device or otherwise—can help with the issue. This also means your employees can collaborate easily across departments using the cloud network.
Consolidated Data Leads To Business Insights
You can use automated services within the cloud to gather data about your business and practices. The cloud can deliver information about your budget, inventory, sales, supply chain, and more. This information highlights trends within your business. Which experiments were successful? Is there room for improvement in your day-to-day processes? Reviewing this data and analyzing trends makes it easier to come up with new ideas and processes. When you can easily access crucial information in the cloud, you can continuously improve your business. This also helps you learn more about customer interactions. Who is your biggest demographic? Which sales were the most successful? Answers to these and similar questions allow you to better target and serve your best customers.
No Limitations To Growth
One of the advantages of taking your retail business to the cloud is that it frees you from the limitations of legacy software and equipment. This guide already mentions how cloud-based POS systems can run on mobile devices. This allows you to get rid of bulky checkout areas and make the most of the physical space in your store. A cloud network can also ease the growing pains of a flourishing retail business, if your store is no longer large enough to suit your needs. With a physical, on-site network, renovations or moves lead to system downtime. A cloud-based system, on the other hand, will continue to function as long as the central server stays running. This means you can continue to serve customers through various improvements and growth. Furthermore, cloud computing connects all of your store locations, placing them on one unified network. This makes it easy to train new or relocated employees across all of your stores.
Security Across Your Business
Companies across all industries look to the cloud for top-tier security and a network they can rely on. Retail businesses, like many companies, require a secure network to store information about their products and their business. Furthermore, a security leak or cyberattack could lead to disastrous consequences. In addition to losing data and money, your business could lose customers as your reputation takes a hit. Cloud networks—including cloud-based POS systems—offer a high level of modern security. Your business will receive the latest software, updates, and security practices to ensure your data remains safe. Additionally, partnering with a managed services provider like Atmosera takes your Microsoft Azure security and compliance to the next level. Expert advice and 24/7 monitoring let you rest easy knowing your business and its information are secure.
Focus Less on IT and More on Your Business
Retail businesses have a lot on their plate: managing clean and efficient stores, training a helpful and friendly staff, balancing exciting sales with profitable products, and more. Managing an in-house IT network on top of these duties takes a lot of time and energy. When you migrate to the cloud, you add simplicity, efficiency, and reliability to your IT infrastructure. This allows you to focus on the things that matter most, like putting the best products on the market and increasing your brand name. Most importantly, cloud computing helps you manage the customers you serve, creating a better business for everyone.
