How to Improve the Retail Shopping Experience with IFS Applications

Feb 11, 2019

Up until the dotcom boom of the early noughties, most retail shopping was done at brick-and-mortar stores. As we moved a decade post, millennials remained the primary customer base retailers were looking to seduce. This group was technology sound, but kept some of the traits of their previous generation in some aspects, like the touch and feel of a fabric before purchase. As we move into the next phase of retail evolution, the primary customers have shifted from millennials to Gen Z. Although, only a few years younger than the millennial generation, Gen Z consumers are re-writing the way retailers operate.  

No longer is the touch and try on a product that important. Instead things like brand reputation, social media coverage and overall lifestyle-fit’ wins Gen Z hearts. This generation has been brought up on an ‘internet-first’ life, and finds itself comfortable on ecommerce platforms, is not afraid to engage with ads, will buy on new platforms if they get the service they expect, and spend more of their income than ever before. What’s more? This generation influences how their older generations shop, too! 

As a retailer, if you aren’t capitalizing on these trends, you’re missing out. Here, we talk about how enterprise software like IFS Applications can help get your retail up-to-speed for digital-age consumers.  

What are IFS Applications for Retail? 

IFS is a global applications company that provides leading enterprise software for service-focused businesses around the world. IFS Applications is the core technology used in IFS suites like IFS Field Service Management (FSM), IFS Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), IFS Enterprise Operational Intelligence (EOI), IFS Maintenix, and others that help companies adapt to, and embrace agility to stay ahead in the market 

How to Evolve into Unified Commerce? 

 Customers today seek an omni-channel experience that allows them to have seamless and consistent experiences irrespective of the channel they are using to shop, ergo. PC, mobile, brick-and-mortar, etc. IFS Applications joins together all the capabilities necessary to form a unified commerce platform that delivers consistent ‘wow’ experiences for your customer through a 3-step process. 

Step-1) Increase Efficiencies 

This is done by automated data collection, faster analysis, and better forecasting service needs using the IFS suite. Better data helps build a thorough understanding of how your products and services are perceived and used, allowing more precise, transparent and proactive operations. 

Step-2) Boost Innovation 

Using all the data gathered and real-time updates you can be ahead of the trend when it comes to capturing a customer’s imagination through innovation. Whether it’s new products or service offerings, IFS for the enterprise helps you create stronger bonds with your customers. 

Step-3) Incremental Business Transformation 

By improving product or service qualities, or coming up with new ones you keep building new avenues for revenue generation like charging for after-sale services, or charging or output of the product. 

Building a Robust Retail Operation with IFS Applications 

IFS Applications helps you build a unified commerce platform using many of its innovative features like: 

1) Merchandising & Assortment Planning 

IFS Applications use “IFS assortment sourcing and replenishment” as a systemic approach to reaching future goals for sales, inventory management, or managing finances. Being able to plan for customer demand ensures you have the right product at the right store at the right time. 

2) Forecasting & Replenishment 

IFS forecasting and replenishment helps you optimize your supply chain and enabling new just-in-time service offerings. Using this feature, you can create better order proposals, provide greater support, enhance delivery patterns and get access to proactive error forecasting. 

3) Embedded CRM/SRM Capability 

Embedded CRM capabilities in IFS Applications allow you easy-to-use graphical overviews that simplifies processes and access. A dynamic promotion engine helps you create campaigns, and interact with POS & e-Com using standard APIs. Embedded SRM on the other hand, emphasizes and evaluates existing suppliers to become smarter and more efficient. 

4) Distributed OMS 

IFS’s distributed order management solution uses IFS Sourcing to automatically select the optimal supply source for retailers. It also supports click & collect and drop shipment, from both suppliers and internal DCs. While role-based IFS Lobby allows you to work with exceptions based on real-time data. Returns management ensures returns from any channel to warehouse or supplier seamlessly. 

Convinced? If you’re ready to organize your retail operations into unified commerce, give us a call at ProV. ProV are an award-winning partner for IFS products and services. We offer one of the best IFS Applications pricing and provide best-in-class services for IFS implementations, IFS software support, and IFS customizations.  

To learn how we simplify technologies for businesses like yours, visit our Resource Library. To get started on your digital transformation journey, take our FREE Consultation today.     

 

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Topics: IFS Partners, ifs financials, ifs projects