Aramco IPO retail subscription at $5.8 billion, says lead manager

Retail subscription for Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO) reached 21.77 billion Saudi riyals ($5.8 billion) on Monday, lead manager Samba Capital said. The retail element of the sale so far amounts to a total of 680,254,540 shares, Samba Capital said in a statement. The last day of subscription for the retail tranche of the share sale is Nov. 28, it said. Aramco launched the IPO on Nov. 3.The oil giant said it plans to sell 1.5% of the company, or about 3 billion shares, at an indicative price range of 30 riyals to 32 riyals, valuing the IPO at as much as 96 billion riyals ($25.6 billion) and giving the company a potential market value of between $1.6 trillion and $1.7 trillion.

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Conferma Pay

Conferma Pay is a global payment technology company. Created in 2005 and acquired by Sabre in August 2022 with additional investment from Mastercard just 4 months later, Conferma Pay combines innovation and expertise to consistently find success when they push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the world of virtual payments. Conferma Pay connects issuers to more than 700 travel management companies, all five major global distribution systems and more than 100 corporate booking tools. Conferma Pay is fully integrated with all the major card schemes and serves more than 50 banking partners, who have issued Conferma Pay-generated virtual cards in 100 currencies across 197 countries.

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Streamlining Product Catalogs: Best PIM Software Unveiled

Article | March 18, 2024

Explore the best PIM software solutions for operational excellence. Understand how efficient product content management elevates ecommerce experiences and drives businesses forward. Contents 1 Mastering Product Data Complexity 2 Elite PIM Software Arsenal 2.1 inriver 2.2 Feedonomics 2.3 Salsify 2.4 Stibo STEP 2.5 Pimberly 2.6 Dynamicweb eCommerce Suite 2.7 Creative Force 2.8 censhare 2.9 Brandquad 2.10 Netcore Unbxd PIM 3 Envisioning the Future of PIM Strategy 1 Mastering Product Data Complexity In the digital age, where ecommerce and online presence are pivotal for business success, managing product information efficiently is more important than ever. The need for robust Product Information Management (PIM) software has become imperative as companies grapple with an ever-increasing volume of product data and a growing number of sales channels. PIM software offers a unified solution to manage product data, streamline catalog management, improve customer experience, and ultimately drive sales. At the heart of PIM lies its ability to centralize product information, providing a single source of truth that feeds into all retail and digital marketing channels. This centralized approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures consistency in product information, which is crucial for maintaining brand integrity across diverse platforms. By leveraging the best PIM software, businesses can rapidly adapt to market changes, update product listings in real-time, and deliver accurate product information to customers, thereby reducing return rates and increasing customer satisfaction. The implementation of the right PIM software is a game-changer for businesses aiming to refine their product management workflows. Optimal PIM systems are designed to address the multifaceted nature of product data management, offering features that consolidate disparate information into a unified repository. This consolidation maintains data accuracy, a core component that directly influences customer trust and business credibility. Moreover, PIM software automates the process of data collection and dissemination. Automation reduces the manual labor associated with data management, allowing businesses to focus on strategic initiatives that drive growth and competitiveness. By streamlining data processes, PIM tools not only facilitate operational efficiency but also empower businesses to respond swiftly to market changes and customer needs. Fundamentally, mastering product data complexity through PIM software is not just about managing information but about transforming how businesses interact with their data. It's about creating a robust framework that supports scalability, enhances customer experience, and promotes brand consistency across all digital touchpoints. 2 Elite PIM Software Arsenal For decision-makers, identifying the best PIM software is crucial for optimizing product catalog management. Here's an overview of an elite PIM software arsenal, offering insights into each tool's capabilities and benefits: 2.1 Inriver Inriver PIM is a formidable tool tailored to the demands of omnichannel commerce professionals. It enables frictionless buying experiences by providing complete and consistent product data, including sustainability information. It goes beyond the initial sale, enhancing personalized digital experiences, building buyer loyalty, and ensuring compliance and traceability. The key features of Inriver PIM can be encapsulated as follows: 2.1.1 Centralized Product Information Management Unified Data Hub: Acts as the definitive point of reference for all product information, guaranteeing uniformity throughout various sales outlets. Multilingual Support: Facilitates product information management in multiple languages, expanding global reach. 2.1.2 Enhanced Omnichannel Experience Frictionless Buyer Journeys: Delivers seamless and cohesive buying experiences across all channels, from online to in-store. Customer Engagement: Enhances personalized digital experiences, fostering loyalty and repeat business. 2.1.3 Data Quality and Compliance Comprehensive Data Integrity: Maintains high-quality, accurate product data, including sustainability details, to meet regulatory standards. Traceability and Compliance: Ensures products meet industry and market-specific compliance requirements. 2.1.4 Streamlined Operations and Analytics Efficiency in Syndication: Automates the distribution of product information to various channels, streamlining operations. Actionable Insights: Leverages analytics to improve business productivity and market responsiveness. 2.1.5 Flexibility and Accessibility User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive platform that is accessible to users of varying technical skill levels. Customizable Workflows: Adapts to business processes with flexible, configurable workflows to meet unique needs. 2.2 Feedonomics Feedonomics combines cutting-edge technology with expert service to optimize and manage product feeds across multiple e-commerce channels and marketplaces. It addresses the complexities of online product listing and advertising, helping users enhance visibility, improve efficiency, and boost sales. 2.2.1 Comprehensive Feed Optimization Dynamic Data Transformation: Automates the customization of product data to meet the unique requirements of each marketplace and advertising platform. Advanced Rule Engine: Allows for the creation of sophisticated rules to dynamically optimize titles, descriptions, and other product attributes for better search visibility and conversion. 2.2.2 Full-Service Management Expert Feed Management: A dedicated team of feed specialists provides hands-on support for feed optimization, error handling, and strategic advice. 24/7 Monitoring and Support: Ensures continuous operation with proactive monitoring and immediate resolution of issues, backed by round-the-clock expert assistance. 2.2.3 Multichannel Integration Global Marketplace Reach: Seamlessly lists products on over 1000+ global marketplaces and advertising channels, including Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook, and more. Seamless Platform Integration: Offers robust integrations with major ecommerce platforms and ERPs, facilitating smooth data synchronization and management. 2.2.4 Performance Analytics and Insights Actionable Analytics: Delivers insights into feed performance, highlighting opportunities for optimization and growth. ROI Tracking: Measures the impact of feed optimizations on sales and advertising ROI, enabling data-driven decision-making. 2.2.5 Customized Solutions Personalized Setup and Optimization: Tailors feed management strategies to meet specific business needs and goals, enhancing product visibility and sales potential. Data Governance and Compliance: Ensures product data meets channel-specific requirements and adheres to data quality standards. 2.3 Salsify Salsify's PXM Platform has revolutionized product presentation in the digital domain. By amalgamating product content management with an extensive commerce ecosystem, it assures that brands deliver top-tier shopping experiences everywhere online. Its PXM platform centralizes product content and automates critical processes. Thus, it ensures the best possible product experiences at every selling destination. 2.3.1 Comprehensive Product Content Management Unified Product Information: Centralizes data to create a single source of truth for all product information, ensuring consistency across platforms. Digital Asset Management: Integrates and organizes digital assets like images and videos with product listings, enhancing the visual appeal of product presentations. 2.3.2 Expansive Commerce Ecosystem Integration Seamless Channel Syndication: Connects with a vast network of retail, marketplace, and ecommerce platforms to facilitate effortless product listing and updates. Dynamic Data Syndication: Automatically adapts product information to meet the unique requirements of each sales channel, improving listing accuracy and compliance. 2.3.3 Automation and Efficiency Workflow Automation: Streamlines operations with automated workflows for product information management, reducing manual efforts and enhancing productivity. Optimization Tools: Features AI-driven recommendations for content improvements, helping brands maximize product visibility and conversion rates. 2.3.4 Collaboration and Compliance Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between teams, ensuring that all stakeholders contribute to and access up-to-date product information. Compliance and Quality Checks: Automates compliance checks and quality control, ensuring product listings meet channel-specific requirements and brand standards. 2.3.5 Global Reach with Local Precision Multi-Lingual Support: Offers capabilities to manage and publish product content in multiple languages, supporting global brands in localizing their digital presence. Cultural Adaptation: Customizes product experiences to reflect local tastes and preferences, enhancing consumer engagement in diverse markets. 2.4 Stibo Systems Stibo STEP is a comprehensive Master Data Management (MDM) platform by Stibo Systems designed to empower organizations with the ability to manage, centralize, and share their operational data effective It is engineered to support businesses in enhancing customer experiences, driving growth, and facilitating digital transformation through superior data management. 2.4.1 Centralized Data Management Consolidates Master Data: The consolidation is done across domains such as products, customers, suppliers, and assets into a single, authoritative system. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and accessibility of critical business information. Data Quality and Governance: Implements robust data governance policies to maintain data quality and compliance. Flexible Data Modeling: Offers flexible data modeling capabilities that adapt to business-specific requirements. Supports multidomain master data management, allowing businesses to manage multiple data domains (for example, product, customer, supplier) within a single platform. 2.4.2 Integration and Syndication Seamless Integration: It seamlessly integrates with existing business systems (ERP, CRM, ecommerce platforms) through robust APIs and connectors. Also, it facilitates the syndication of consistent and accurate data across internal and external channels, marketplaces, and digital touchpoints. Scalability and Performance: Engineered to scale with business growth, capable of handling large volumes of data across global operations. High-performance architecture ensures swift data processing and responsiveness. 2.4.3 Analytics and Reporting Insightful Tools: Includes analytics and reporting tools to derive actionable insights from master data. Helps organizations make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date data. Proven Success: Features include data validation, cleansing, and deduplication to ensure the integrity of master data. 2.5 Pimberly Pimberly is a cloud-based product information management system that effortlessly bridges suppliers and distributors. It facilitates a seamless flow of accurate and engaging product information, propelling businesses towards digital excellence. Pimberly is a game-changer for online presence enrichment. 2.5.1 Centralized Data Management Unified Product Repository: Consolidates all product data into a single, accessible cloud platform, simplifying management and distribution. Automated Data Synchronization: Ensures real-time updates and consistency across all sales channels, eliminating data silos. 2.5.2 Speed to Market Rapid Product Launches: Accelerates the process of bringing new products to market with streamlined workflows and automated data handling. Global Market Readiness: Supports international expansion with multilingual and multicurrency data capabilities, making global commerce effortless. 2.5.3 Enhanced Online Experiences Rich Product Descriptions: Enables the creation of detailed and compelling product narratives that capture consumer interest. High-Quality Data Assurance: Focuses on maintaining the integrity and accuracy of product information, boosting consumer trust and conversion rates. 2.5.4 User-Friendly Interface Intuitive Design: Offers a straightforward, easy-to-navigate dashboard that reduces training time and increases productivity. Accessibility and Flexibility: Cloud-based nature allows for access from anywhere, providing flexibility to teams and facilitating remote collaboration. 2.5.5 Customer Engagement and Satisfaction Seamless Omnichannel Presence: Delivers consistent product experiences across all customer touchpoints, from online marketplaces to social media platforms. Data-Driven Insights: Empowers businesseswith actionable analytics to refine product strategies and enhance customer interactions. 2.6 Dynamicweb eCommerce Suite Dynamicweb's eCommerce Suite offers a holistic online business platform, blending PIM, CMS, and e-commerce functionalities. Its integration prowess with CRM and ERP systems, backed by a robust partner network, empowers brands to forge lasting customer relationships and drive growth. Here’s a breakdown of its core functionalities and benefits: 2.6.1 Unified Platform Cloud-Based Solution: Utilizes the latest in cloud technology to provide a scalable, secure, and accessible platform for businesses of all sizes. MACH Architecture: Built on modern principles, including Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless, ensuring flexibility and speed. 2.6.2 Advanced Integration Capabilities Open Integration Framework: Simplifies the integration process with CRM and ERP systems, notably with MS Dynamics suite, enhancing operational efficiency and data consistency. Supports Digital Business Processes: Facilitates various digital business operations, allowing for a unified approach to e-commerce, marketing, and sales. 2.6.3 Versatile Digital Marketing Tools Robust E-commerce Solutions: Offers comprehensive ecommerce capabilities, from product management to checkout optimization, tailored for B2B and B2C markets. Integrates advanced digital marketing features to engage customers across multiple channels. Dynamic Content Management: Provides powerful CMS features for creating and managing digital content with ease, enhancing the user experience. 2.6.4 Enhanced Customer Experiences Operational Efficiency: Streamlines business operations through integration and automation, reducing manual effort and errors. Delivers personalized customer journeys across all digital touchpoints. Revenue Growth: Supports businesses in their growth objectives by enhancing online visibility, customer engagement, and sales conversions. 2.7 Creative Force Creative Force is tailored to the high-volume demands of eCommerce content production. With a suite of automation tools and integrations, it streamlines the creation of top-notch eCommerce and editorial content, making it a go-to for leading brands seeking operational excellence in content management. Creative Force is trusted by global brands as it provides visibility and control over creative operations. Some of its key benefits are mentioned below: 2.7.1 Advanced Sample Management Tracking Production: Offers sophisticated tools for managing physical product samples through every stage of content production. Automated task assignments and progress tracking minimize bottlenecks. Status Updates: Barcode and RFID tracking for easy sample location and status updates. Integrated check-in and checkout processes to monitor sample movement. 2.7.2 eCommerce Content Production Efficient Planning: Streamlines the entire content production process from planning to publishing, ensuring timely and efficient project completion. Real-Time Updates: Centralized scheduling and tracking of all content production activities. Real-time updates and notifications to keep all team members aligned. 2.7.3 Workflow Automation Customizable Workflow Templates: Templates can match specific project requirements. Employs intelligent automation to optimize workflow efficiency and reduce manual intervention. Collaborative Tools: Shared workspaces and communication tools to foster a collaborative environment. Role-based access control to ensure secure and relevant data sharing. 2.7.4 Cloud-Based DAM Central repository: Provides a robust (DAM) system for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets. Central repository for all digital content assets, including images, videos, and documents. Advanced search capabilities and metadata tagging for quick asset retrieval. Software Integrations: Offers integration with industry-standard software and systems to enhance productivity and connectivity. Plug-and-play integration with eCommerce platforms, ERP systems, and creative software. API support for custom integrations to fit unique business needs. 2.8 censhare censhare unites DAM, PIM, and CMS into an omnichannel content management powerhouse. It enables precise audience targeting across diverse channels and geographies, bolstering business growth. Favored by industry heavyweights, censhare adapts to workflows, enhancing operational efficiency. This advanced solution empowers businesses to deliver precisely targeted messages to diverse audiences across a wide range of channels, languages, and regions. 2.8.1 Integrated Platform Cohesive System: Combines DAM, PIM, and CMS into a singular system for streamlined content and product information management. Digital Asset Management: Centralizes and manages digital assets, facilitating easy access, sharing, and distribution of multimedia content. 2.8.2 Market Responsiveness Agile Content Management: Facilitates quick adaptation to market changes and consumer trends through agile content management and distribution capabilities. Consistent Brand Messaging: Ensures uniform brand representation across all channels, enhancing brand recognition and customer loyalty. 2.8.3 Content Management System Pro-Engagement: Allows for the creation, management, and optimization of content, enhancing engagement and interaction with target audiences. Product Information Management: Offers robust tools for managing detailed product information, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all sales and marketing channels. 2.8.4 Omnichannel Delivery Consistent Experience: Enables organizations to craft and distribute personalized content across various channels, ensuring a consistent and engaging customer experience. Designed to fit seamlessly into existing business processes, censhare can be customized to meet the unique needs and workflows of any organization. Global Reach: Supports multiple languages and regional adaptations, making it suitable for global companies looking to connect with audiences worldwide. Grows with your business, accommodating expanding product lines, entering new markets, and evolving marketing strategies. 2.9 Brandquad Brandquad offers a PXM platform that simplifies product content lifecycle management. It equips brand manufacturers with tools for strategizing, creating, and optimizing product content, ensuring exceptional digital marketplace performances. It caters specifically to the needs of brand manufacturers aiming for digital excellence and stands out for its robust capabilities and user-friendly interface. 2.9.1 Centralized PIM Unified Data Hub: Centralizes all product information, offering a single source of truth for brand manufacturers. Smooth Integration: Easily integrates with ERP, CRM, and ecommerce platforms, ensuring data consistency across all systems. 2.9.2 Digital Asset Management Asset Linking: Connects product information with relevant digital assets for a cohesive content strategy. Rich Media Support: Manages a wide array of digital formats, from images and videos to PDFs and presentations. Features advanced search and tagging capabilities. 2.9.3 Product Data Syndication Broad Distribution: Enables the publication of enriched product data across multiple channels and formats. Ensures product information is consistently updated and accurate across all digital touchpoints. Marketplace Adaptability: Customizes content to meet the specific requirements of various online marketplaces and retail sites. 2.9.4 Ecommerce Intelligence Performance Analytics: Delivers in-depth insights into product content performance on the digital shelf. Enables brands to make informed decisions based on actionable data and analytics. Competitive Benchmarking: Analyzes market trends and competitor performance to optimize product positioning and strategy. Provides the tools and insights needed for brands to stand out in highly competitive marketplaces. 2.10 Netcore Unbxd PIM Netcore Unbxd PIM harnesses AI to deliver unparalleled product information accuracy. As a central repository for all product data, it streamlines ecommerce operations, enhancing shopper experiences and boosting conversions. This powerful tool is not just about managing data; it's about leveraging information to create exciting, accurate, and engaging product narratives that captivate customers and lead to successful conversions. 2.10.1 Centralized Data Repository Product Information Hub: Eliminates data silos by aggregating product data in one accessible location. AI-Powered Data Accuracy: Leverages advanced AI algorithms to maintain the highest levels of data integrity and accuracy. Automatically enriches product listings with detailed, accurate descriptions. 2.10.2 Efficient Data Management Optimized Data: Simplifies the complexities of product information management, from import to publication. Facilitates easy import and bulk editing of product information, saving time and resources. Enhances searchability and discoverability of products through optimized data. Superior CX: Allows for the quick rollout of product updates across multiple channels simultaneously. Ensures that customers have access to detailed, accurate, and consistent product information. 2.10.3 Robust Integration Unified Commerce Experience: Effectively connects with ecommerce platforms, marketplaces, and ERP systems. Enables a unified commerce experience by integrating with existing business systems. Streamlines workflows and reduces the need for manual data entry. Analytics and Insights: Offers detailed analytics and reporting features to monitor and optimize product performance. Tracks product performance across different channels to identify trends and opportunities. Provides actionable insights to improve product listings and marketing strategies. 3 Envisioning the Future of PIM Strategy The progression of PIM software is a testament to the dynamism of its technology and its adaptive applications. Its future trajectory is poised to significantly refine how businesses manage their product information with a slew of cutting-edge enhancements. One can anticipate more sophisticated integrative features in the best PIM software, where seamless synchronization with other critical business systems, such as ERP and CRM solutions, becomes a standard. This fosters more streamlined and effective exchanges of data across various sectors and sales conduits. The infusion of AI and machine learning into PIM is set to redefine the efficiency of data management operations. These technologies promise to introduce automation in routine data tasks, refine the accuracy of the data, and underpin predictive analytics, all contributing to improved consistency of product data. As decision-making increasingly becomes data-centric, PIM tools are expected to be at the forefront, ensuring the integrity and uniformity of product data, which is indispensable for sound governance. Advanced PIM systems are increasingly moving towards enhancing customer experiences with tailored personalization. By customizing product information to align with individual customer preferences, PIM solutions are envisioned to significantly boost customer satisfaction and foster loyalty. Additionally, with the global expansion of businesses, PIM tools will become more versatile, accommodating a multitude of languages and currencies, and accommodating local market regulations, thus enabling effective global market penetration. PIM systems will also likely expand their capabilities in analytics and reporting, providing businesses with more nuanced insights into product performance and consumer trends, which are vital for shaping strategic decisions. The commitment of PIM tools to support an omnichannel approach will also remain critical, ensuring coherent product information is accessible across all customer engagement points. In an era where consumers are increasingly demanding transparency in product sourcing and sustainability, PIM systems are expected to become a trusted platform for communicating such information, strengthening the bond with socially responsible consumers. PIM software are becoming more deeply ingrained in the fabric of business operations, adapting to ongoing digital shifts, managing the growing complexity of product information, and catering to the increasing consumer appetite for tailored, transparent, and fluid customer experiences.

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POS Solutions

E-commerce Market & Trends: A Report On How India Sells & Shops

Article | February 15, 2024

You have to be living in a cave if you haven’t experienced e-commerce already! No, we aren’t really bluffing when we say this. With a business model that is growing steadily at 23% year-over-year, aren’t e-commerce markets the place to be? Further, to add on, 2020 has been a year like no other in recent history. The events of the coronavirus pandemic that marked its spread on a global scale, worked wonders in bringing us closer to e-commerce than we ever were. The e-commerce industry was the backbone of humanity amidst the time of pandemic and uncertain lockdowns across different countries around the globe. Considering the fact that e-commerce has been suited to the trend amidst the pandemic, let’s have a look at how the world’s largest democratic, India, which is also one of the hot spots for e-commerce giants, has kept up with its buying and selling during 2020. Let’s get started! The total “your order is placed successfully” notification so far: Beginning its spree of three months, lockdown in the country was enforced in the last week of March. Being the innovators of ‘jugaad’(alternative way of solving or fixing a problem), Indian’s were prepared for the event, giving the e-commerce sites, a taste of dip with 2.40% on the overall orders placed (Yes, we should also consider the events of lockdown on courier facilities). However, this wasn’t it as the highest dip was about to come in April 2020, giving a 10% blow to the e-commerce industry. While these were the lower points, the e-commerce industry has experienced a boom in orders placed after April, marking the highest for the year with July. However, we are not done with the sales yet! Wonder which particular segment was the king of sales amidst the entire pandemic drama? Guess… Seems like we Indians love our gadgets really well, yes, it was the electronics! With ‘unlock 1.0’ in action, we had our carts prepared for checking out, the e-commerce industry in India witnessed a growth of 162%. However, this was just a mere aid to the losses as June faced a setback again! Interestingly, September marked a change in the charts, making the highest number of orders placed in e-commerce platforms, marking a 43% spike in electronic sales. How Indians sold in 2020! 2020 has been a year like no other (in both senses of the word). The extended lockdowns and social distancing helped our local kiranas (General Store) to share the platform beside some large enterprises, allowing businesses of all forms to adapt to hyper-local e-commerce. Conclusion Ecommerce has earned its rightful place as the most preferred shopping mode for us Indians. Thankfully, the markets have picked up with their pace, post the events of Unlock 1.0. For any business, one of the best news that they can conclude the year with is the fact that consumers are no longer using digital platforms for their daily needs. Online platforms have earned their rightful place, making it the perfect time to depend on e-commerce business. Lastly, have also secured the 9th position in global growth.

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POS Retail

Adapting to the changing times

Article | May 10, 2024

Retailers are rapidly adapting their businesses as covid-19 continues to hinder sales. The most successful are shifting towards online experiential retail. As a business owner, you’re probably hearing a lot of ways that small businesses can adapt to the changing times. The most common that we’ve seen are: Move your store online, or improve your online sales processes. Offer on-the-go product deals Shift product focus to hands-on usage and activities. While these are definitely great starting points, they aren’t really specific to any industry. We’ll cover different ways you can adapt your retail business using the tools from right within your Erply account. We’ll even cover examples specific to a variety of industries so you can be inspired to change up or improve your covid-19 sales strategies. The strategy: Adapting your retail business Retail adaptation can seem overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve never undergone large-scale product changes before. A good place to start to is to think: what would you want to see in a retailer during the covid-19 shutdown? Think about yourself as a consumer, not a store owner. Life might be slowing down, but it’s not coming to a standstill — you probably want to find more ways to maintain safe, healthy protocols when shopping for necessities, looking for gifts, or seeking entertainment. As a retailer, your customers will be looking to you for ways to do all of these, while also minimizing the risk of coming into contact with covid-19. There are plenty of creative ways to shift your business offerings to fit these fast-changing times. We’ll first give examples of how your existing Erply tools can be used to adapt your business, then will cover industry-specific examples. Create special deals Remember, short-term value translates into long-term customer relationships! Loyalty points Looking to boost sales without discounting your products? Try offering loyalty points at an increased rate to encourage shopper support during covid-19. Loyalty programs are a great way to encourage repeat business by incentivizing customers to repeatedly choose your store over competitors in exchange for rewards. Bundles and assemblies Product bundles and assemblies can be used to sell items together in a group. Product bundles can be used to sell large items together at a slightly discounted price or to help sell slow-moving inventory. Think subscription boxes, holiday-themed gift sets, or even items commonly purchased together. Promotions Seasonal, event-based, or brand collaborations; there’s never a bad time for a sales promotion! They’re a great way to encourage customer sales by offering enticing product discounts. Erply’s powerful promotions builder enables you to set up flat discounts, percent discounts, BOGO-type deals, and more. Price lists An alternative to promotions, price lists allow you to create highly specific discounts for any sales campaign. Price lists can target specific product groups, store locations, or even customer segments (think VIP pricing). Coupons Coupons can offer one-time, redeemable rewards. They tie into promotions, but aren’t available to every customer, only the ones who have a coupon or a coupon code. Improve customer service Customer service is more than just employee-to-customer interaction; it also includes accessibility and streamlined shopping. Buy online, pickup in-store Offer flexible, health-conscious ways for your customers to purchase products in your store. Our e-commerce options allow customers to buy products online, then purchase them in-store. Flexible retail tools mean you can offer a variety of pickup order options that suit the needs of you and your customers. Purchases can be paid in full, partially paid, or can be paid once the customer arrives for pickup. Offline mode for sales anywhere Covid-19 regulations might mean that you’re not able to sell out of your store as you normally would. Maybe you need to make sales on-the-go or from an outside location. Erply’s offline POS ensures that all sales are accounted for, even if you have no internet access. Once connection resumes, all sales data will sync up to your back office to keep your records accurate. The ability to make sales and perform basic POS actions without wifi connection means you can think up creative ways to service your customers outside of your physical store. Contactless payments Depending on your payment hardware, you may be able to accept contactless payments like NFC tap-to-pay, ApplePay, GooglePay, and SamsungPay. This allows you to offer flexible payment options for your customers, while also protecting them (and your employees) from physical contact. See if you own a contactless payment-enabled device. E-commerce for paid online classes and services Webstores are a great opportunity to boost sales when your physical store locations are closed or operating at limited capacity. Can’t sell your products in-store? Try demoing them online instead. Maybe you occasionally host in-store events. Those can be moved to the web, with an e-commerce solution to help you keep track of attendance (online passes can be sold for $0, if needed!) Right now, you can get set up with Shopify, WooCommerce, or ShopZ. Remote payments If you’re offering curbside pickup or phone orders, you can charge customers remotely through your payment processor. This can be done for curbside pickup phone orders, deliveries, or other unique payment processes that you might be implementing. Right now, customers using Global Payments (formally TSYS, Cayan) as their payment processor have access to theGenius Vault to charge customers remotely. Recurring billing If you’re setting up subscription services, you might want to set up recurring billing in your Erply account. Recurring billing automatically creates product invoices at set increments, which can be billed for any predetermined length of time. Erply does the hard work for you so you can focus on servicing your customers. Industry-specific retail adaptation ideas Below, we’ll list some industry-specific ideas on how you can adapt your retail business to the changing times. Be sure to check out all of the sections, even if an industry does not match your business, you might gain inspiration on how certain ideas can be adapted to your specific store! Most, if not all of these ideas can be implemented online or in-store. Be sure to contact our team if you need e-commerce set up on your Erply account, Remember, although people are spending more time indoors, those numbers will decrease as states open up and as the weather improves. Try to envision how your products can be used outdoors or during seasonal events while still adhering to social distancing policies. Fireworks stores Areas particularly affected by stay-at-home orders are seeing an increase in one-off fireworks usage, This will, of course, only increase as the weather warms up and we inch closer to summer holidays. Recommend setting up fireworks bundles to encourage sales, to new and existing customers. Starter packs can be used to help sell slower moving items and introduce new audiences to your store.. Depending on your state’s fireworks regulations, you might also want to set up subscription boxes, or a “fireworks of the month” bundle. Customers can pick up a box each month or sign up for delivery. Both options can take advantage of contactless payments or recurring billing. Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of promotions and coupons during those summer holidays to increase sales! Gardening stores Quarantined or not, your green-thumbed customers will still be looking for your expertise on plant care and gardening tips. We recommend providing online gardening classes with Q&A sessions. These can be paid for in your online store, which may also encourage customers to make additional online purposes. You also can set up bundle and assembly products in your Erply account to create planter kits or herb sets. Some gardening stores have been offering creative options too, such as a paint your own planter kit. Sports stores Sporting events might be cancelled, but that doesn’t mean your customers won’t have a need for your merchandise in the future. Warm weather encourages at-home practice, even if full on competitions are off the table. Now is a great time to take advantage of sales and coupons to keep inventory moving in preparation for season reopenings. These can come bundled with online training classes that give customers tips and tricks for different sport techniques, stretches, etc. Online video game sporting alternatives, like NBA 2K and FIFA, can be used to keep your customers engaged with your brand. Try partnering with local schools or recreational leagues to form online brackets, then charge online entry fees for players looking to participate. Arts and crafts shops The arts have seen a huge boom during state-wide quarantines. From therapeutic activities to creating artwork that supports good causes, such as Healthcare Heros or Rainbow Hunt, there’s a place for craft shops in every home. You might also want to consider bundling items that can be used to create drive-by signage. Online classes or video tutorials are a popular indoor activity that you can sell to your customers through an online webshop. Maybe your shop hosted paint and sip nights. You can either take these to the web, or provide customers with resources and ideas to host their own. Apparel stores Did you know that the color red is the hardest color to capture on photo and video? As more and more people adjust to working from home, promotions and coupons can be used to highlight webcam-friendly clothing and accessories. If you want to take on a more hands-on response to covid-19, you can try to repurpose inventory items to create protective face masks. What’s more, you can offer online classes on how to transform different clothing items into face masks. All of the above can be done using a basic e-commerce platform! Beauty brands Wellness is a huge focus during these coronavirus times, which means you can attract new customers by offering different wellness-themed bundles and packages. You may want to set up subscription boxes using Erply’s recurring billing tools. Brainstorm creative ideas for your products, such as webcam beauty tips for women and men. Bonus points if you can partner with actual customers or a local influencer and work a creative social hashtag to build a sense of community. You can even use coupon codes to encourage more of these sales, and commission an influencer from right within Erply.

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How In-Store Brands Are Taking Over In-Store

Article | April 10, 2020

CPG companies have been feeling the pain from store brands for close to a decade now. Increased quality, curated offerings and better graphics have all led shoppers to try and in many cases then switch to the store brand offering. The latest salvo in this war is about data. Supermarkets used to rely heavily on data and insights on everything from shelf placement to how to market and promote foods from the likes of their CPG partners as well as Nielsen and IRI, to name just a couple. Then "category captains" were created. Usually staffed from the leading CPG brand and headquartered at the retailer’s location, those CPG companies offered retailers insights and recommendations on how to sell more product across the entire category—not just their own brand. Those positions are being eliminated. The source and quality of data has changed. Grocers are relying on their own proprietary research to decide how and where and at what price to place products—their own brands as well as those from CPG.

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Conferma Pay

Conferma Pay is a global payment technology company. Created in 2005 and acquired by Sabre in August 2022 with additional investment from Mastercard just 4 months later, Conferma Pay combines innovation and expertise to consistently find success when they push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the world of virtual payments. Conferma Pay connects issuers to more than 700 travel management companies, all five major global distribution systems and more than 100 corporate booking tools. Conferma Pay is fully integrated with all the major card schemes and serves more than 50 banking partners, who have issued Conferma Pay-generated virtual cards in 100 currencies across 197 countries.

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Leading Wireless Retail Platform Provider Real Time Technologies Continues Growth and Expansion With Acquisition of Your Ware Software

Real Time Technologies (RT²) | January 24, 2024

Real Time Technologies, Inc (RT²), the largest enterprise front-end software platform serving Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. wireless industry, announced today its acquisition of Your Ware Software, a provider of customized business intelligence, sales, and compensation reporting for the wireless retail postpaid channel. Trusted by tier-one telecom carriers to provide retail activation, point-of-sale (POS), payments, business intelligence, and inventory management solutions, RT²'s acquisition of Your Ware Software adds key capabilities to its burgeoning retail wireless store solutions, enabling further expansion into postpaid channels for customers. The purchase is expected to add access to another 4,000 postpaid locations for RT²'s industry-leading wireless retail platform, setting the company up for another banner year in 2024. "The acquisition of Your Ware significantly expands RT²'s presence in the postpaid retail environment and adds to our long-standing success as the leading enterprise POS and Payments provider in prepaid wireless channels," said Omar Azrag, CEO of RT². "The Your Ware team has similar DNA to RT² and brings a world-class level of service specializing in building and deploying customized solutions for the postpaid channel. We are thrilled to have them part of the RT2 family," says Ali Koumaiha, Founder & CPO of RT². "For 22 years, Your Ware Software has designed POS, inventory management, and commission-tracking software for authorized retailers representing tier-one U.S. telecom carriers. Our team of world-class developers and engineers are excited to join the RT² family and continue to serve our customers with the industry-leading products and services they've come to expect. This deal is a triumph for our employees and our customers," says Chris Jones, CEO of Your Ware Software. Neither party disclosed the terms of the deal at this time, and it will remain confidential. In August of 2022, RT² acquired IAS, formerly Qpay from InComm Payments, specializing in customizable payment and technology solutions and the payment processor of choice for retailers, master agents and wireless carriers. RT² has since transformed and simplified the payment offering with an industry-first service model, much to the delight of their long-term customers. About Real Time Technologies (RT²) RT² offers the most flexible cutting-edge Retail Management Solutions that encompass POS, inventory management, payment services, frontline employee management & engagement, business intelligence, and digital automation tools for the wireless industry. RT² support Fortune 500 companies unify their customer experience and remove pain points across multiple retail touch points. Now serving over 14,000 retail locations across the US, Territories, and Canada. RT² prides itself on fostering a family culture and a dynamic work environment where team members are set up to make meaningful contributions across the organization. Learn more at www.rt2.com.

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XY Retail Introduces Cutting-Edge Order Management System for Luxury Retailers

XY Retail | January 08, 2024

XY Retail, a leader in innovative retail solutions, today announces the launch of its latest product, an advanced Order Management System (OMS) that comes fully pre-integrated with the XY Point of Sale (POS) and Clienteling solutions. In response to evolving retailer needs, XY Retail has engineered a comprehensive OMS that not only streamlines order processing but also works seamlessly with the existing XY POS and Clienteling systems. This integrated approach marks a significant leap forward in providing retailers with a unified platform to enhance operational efficiency, customer engagement, and overall business performance. The XY Retail OMS offers: End-to-End Integration: The XY OMS is intricately woven into the fabric of the XY POS and Clienteling systems, fostering a holistic retail ecosystem. This end-to-end integration ensures a fluid and synchronized customer experience across all touchpoints. Effortless Order Processing: With a user-friendly interface, the OMS simplifies and accelerates order management, from initiation to fulfillment. Retailers can now seamlessly track and fulfill customer orders with precision. Real-Time Inventory Visibility: Leveraging the synergy with the XY POS, the OMS provides real-time visibility into inventory levels. This empowers retailers to optimize stock, minimize overstock or stockouts, and enhance overall inventory management. Clienteling Enhancement: The integrated OMS elevates the clienteling experience by consolidating customer information from POS transactions and order history. Sales associates can access a comprehensive view of customer interactions, preferences, and purchase history, enabling personalized and targeted engagement. Data-Driven Decision Making: Harnessing the power of interconnected systems, the XY Retail OMS enables data-driven decision-making. Retailers can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, inventory trends, and sales performance, facilitating strategic planning and business growth. "We're excited to introduce our integrated Order Management System, marking a significant step in advancing retail operations,” said Susan Jeffers, CEO of XY Retail. “By seamlessly merging order management with our POS and Clienteling systems, we provide retailers with a powerful tool to navigate the complexities of modern commerce efficiently and strategically. This integration underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and empowering our clients to stay ahead in a dynamic industry." About XY Retail XY Retail is a trailblazer in the world of unified commerce solutions, revolutionizing the retail landscape with cutting-edge technology and innovation. Our microservices based, API-first, cloud-native platform seamlessly and vertically integrates mobile point of sale, order management, clienteling, and omnichannel capabilities, empowering global brands to deliver unparalleled customer experiences. With a commitment to excellence and a vision for the future of retail, XY Retail is at the forefront of shaping the next generation of innovative and dynamic commerce.

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GK Announces GK Engage, a Highly Personalized Loyalty Solution for Any Retail Touch Point Including Mobile Devices and Point-of-Sale

Business Wire | September 28, 2023

GK today announced its latest solution, GK Engage, a modern, comprehensive and AI-powered loyalty program for every omnichannel retail touch point. This solution empowers retailers to create highly contextualized and personalized outreach including messaging, discounts and rewards that improve customer lifetime value and enrich a retailer’s competitive differentiation. GK Engage was announced at GK’s first-ever Retail Innovation Summit for the Americas, which is taking place Sept. 25-26 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendees can view GK Engage, alongside other GK solutions, at the newly unveiled GK Customer Experience Center. GK is a world leader in point-of-sale (POS) technology and, as a result, its product team has talked with retailers who wanted more out of their loyalty systems. To fill this gap, GK developed GK Engage, a modern take on loyalty. The solution draws inspiration from two successful GK solutions, MCA, GK’s mobile loyalty program, and T+ Loyalty. These predecessor technologies have serviced more than one billion transactions per year for over six million registered users. Now, GK Engage customers will reap these benefits at scale using one comprehensive platform that works across a diverse range of online and in-store retail touch points. GK Engage provides retailers with real-time, AI-driven, personalized loyalty offers that surprise and delight customers. The complete solution creates loyalty tiers that automatically track all customer interactions and generate relevant campaigns to safeguard long-term retailer relationships and customer lifetime value. GK Engage can be integrated with merchandise master data and customer data to ensure all recommendations, promotions, coupons and more are beneficial to the individual customer, as well as the retailer’s current inventory availability and financial goals. What’s more, GK Engage is already integrated into GK’s OmniPOS solution across all touch points including traditional POS, self-checkout kiosks, mobile, and frictionless store technology like GK GO. “GK Engage was created for any retailer, regardless of where they are in their loyalty journey,” said Michael Jaszczyk, chief digital transformation officer, GK and CEO, GK Americas. “The solution is extremely flexible. For some retailers, GK Engage will serve as a complete solution, while others may integrate the solution into a CRM or an existing customer offer system. I look forward to presenting GK Engage alongside our other innovative solutions at the now unveiled GK Customer Experience Center.” Today and tomorrow, GK customers and partners from across the U.S., Latin America and Canada are gathering at GK’s US headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina to take part in the 2023 GK Retail Innovation Summit. In addition to hearing from renowned retail experts like Greg Buzek, founder and president, IHL Group, attendees can visit GK’s new Customer Experience Center. The center showcases GK technology and allows viewers to envision a modern, efficient and exceptional shopper experience across various key touch points including the point-of-sale, the fuel pump and the e-commerce site. At the Customer Experience Center, prospective retail customers can hear from solution experts who will help them to design the best solution deployment for their end-customers. The technology featured in the center includes GK Engage, GK OmniPOS, self check-out, GK Drive, GK GO, GK AIR (artificial intelligence for retail) and fraud prevention solutions from Fujitsu, which invested in GK as a strategic investor earlier this year. About GK GK breaks down the barriers to unified commerce with its open CLOUD4RETAIL platform and a broad portfolio based on it, like OmniPOS for point of sale, mobile POS, mobile customer engagement and a full range of store/back-office solutions. The company is a recognized leader in omnichannel retail, offering a single, global software platform for all retail formats and touch points. Ten of the Top 50 retailers worldwide rely on GK, and GK is the fastest growing global POS provider in new installations over the last three years. For more information, visit www.gk-software.com.

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Leading Wireless Retail Platform Provider Real Time Technologies Continues Growth and Expansion With Acquisition of Your Ware Software

Real Time Technologies (RT²) | January 24, 2024

Real Time Technologies, Inc (RT²), the largest enterprise front-end software platform serving Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. wireless industry, announced today its acquisition of Your Ware Software, a provider of customized business intelligence, sales, and compensation reporting for the wireless retail postpaid channel. Trusted by tier-one telecom carriers to provide retail activation, point-of-sale (POS), payments, business intelligence, and inventory management solutions, RT²'s acquisition of Your Ware Software adds key capabilities to its burgeoning retail wireless store solutions, enabling further expansion into postpaid channels for customers. The purchase is expected to add access to another 4,000 postpaid locations for RT²'s industry-leading wireless retail platform, setting the company up for another banner year in 2024. "The acquisition of Your Ware significantly expands RT²'s presence in the postpaid retail environment and adds to our long-standing success as the leading enterprise POS and Payments provider in prepaid wireless channels," said Omar Azrag, CEO of RT². "The Your Ware team has similar DNA to RT² and brings a world-class level of service specializing in building and deploying customized solutions for the postpaid channel. We are thrilled to have them part of the RT2 family," says Ali Koumaiha, Founder & CPO of RT². "For 22 years, Your Ware Software has designed POS, inventory management, and commission-tracking software for authorized retailers representing tier-one U.S. telecom carriers. Our team of world-class developers and engineers are excited to join the RT² family and continue to serve our customers with the industry-leading products and services they've come to expect. This deal is a triumph for our employees and our customers," says Chris Jones, CEO of Your Ware Software. Neither party disclosed the terms of the deal at this time, and it will remain confidential. In August of 2022, RT² acquired IAS, formerly Qpay from InComm Payments, specializing in customizable payment and technology solutions and the payment processor of choice for retailers, master agents and wireless carriers. RT² has since transformed and simplified the payment offering with an industry-first service model, much to the delight of their long-term customers. About Real Time Technologies (RT²) RT² offers the most flexible cutting-edge Retail Management Solutions that encompass POS, inventory management, payment services, frontline employee management & engagement, business intelligence, and digital automation tools for the wireless industry. RT² support Fortune 500 companies unify their customer experience and remove pain points across multiple retail touch points. Now serving over 14,000 retail locations across the US, Territories, and Canada. RT² prides itself on fostering a family culture and a dynamic work environment where team members are set up to make meaningful contributions across the organization. Learn more at www.rt2.com.

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XY Retail Introduces Cutting-Edge Order Management System for Luxury Retailers

XY Retail | January 08, 2024

XY Retail, a leader in innovative retail solutions, today announces the launch of its latest product, an advanced Order Management System (OMS) that comes fully pre-integrated with the XY Point of Sale (POS) and Clienteling solutions. In response to evolving retailer needs, XY Retail has engineered a comprehensive OMS that not only streamlines order processing but also works seamlessly with the existing XY POS and Clienteling systems. This integrated approach marks a significant leap forward in providing retailers with a unified platform to enhance operational efficiency, customer engagement, and overall business performance. The XY Retail OMS offers: End-to-End Integration: The XY OMS is intricately woven into the fabric of the XY POS and Clienteling systems, fostering a holistic retail ecosystem. This end-to-end integration ensures a fluid and synchronized customer experience across all touchpoints. Effortless Order Processing: With a user-friendly interface, the OMS simplifies and accelerates order management, from initiation to fulfillment. Retailers can now seamlessly track and fulfill customer orders with precision. Real-Time Inventory Visibility: Leveraging the synergy with the XY POS, the OMS provides real-time visibility into inventory levels. This empowers retailers to optimize stock, minimize overstock or stockouts, and enhance overall inventory management. Clienteling Enhancement: The integrated OMS elevates the clienteling experience by consolidating customer information from POS transactions and order history. Sales associates can access a comprehensive view of customer interactions, preferences, and purchase history, enabling personalized and targeted engagement. Data-Driven Decision Making: Harnessing the power of interconnected systems, the XY Retail OMS enables data-driven decision-making. Retailers can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, inventory trends, and sales performance, facilitating strategic planning and business growth. "We're excited to introduce our integrated Order Management System, marking a significant step in advancing retail operations,” said Susan Jeffers, CEO of XY Retail. “By seamlessly merging order management with our POS and Clienteling systems, we provide retailers with a powerful tool to navigate the complexities of modern commerce efficiently and strategically. This integration underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and empowering our clients to stay ahead in a dynamic industry." About XY Retail XY Retail is a trailblazer in the world of unified commerce solutions, revolutionizing the retail landscape with cutting-edge technology and innovation. Our microservices based, API-first, cloud-native platform seamlessly and vertically integrates mobile point of sale, order management, clienteling, and omnichannel capabilities, empowering global brands to deliver unparalleled customer experiences. With a commitment to excellence and a vision for the future of retail, XY Retail is at the forefront of shaping the next generation of innovative and dynamic commerce.

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POS Retail

GK Announces GK Engage, a Highly Personalized Loyalty Solution for Any Retail Touch Point Including Mobile Devices and Point-of-Sale

Business Wire | September 28, 2023

GK today announced its latest solution, GK Engage, a modern, comprehensive and AI-powered loyalty program for every omnichannel retail touch point. This solution empowers retailers to create highly contextualized and personalized outreach including messaging, discounts and rewards that improve customer lifetime value and enrich a retailer’s competitive differentiation. GK Engage was announced at GK’s first-ever Retail Innovation Summit for the Americas, which is taking place Sept. 25-26 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendees can view GK Engage, alongside other GK solutions, at the newly unveiled GK Customer Experience Center. GK is a world leader in point-of-sale (POS) technology and, as a result, its product team has talked with retailers who wanted more out of their loyalty systems. To fill this gap, GK developed GK Engage, a modern take on loyalty. The solution draws inspiration from two successful GK solutions, MCA, GK’s mobile loyalty program, and T+ Loyalty. These predecessor technologies have serviced more than one billion transactions per year for over six million registered users. Now, GK Engage customers will reap these benefits at scale using one comprehensive platform that works across a diverse range of online and in-store retail touch points. GK Engage provides retailers with real-time, AI-driven, personalized loyalty offers that surprise and delight customers. The complete solution creates loyalty tiers that automatically track all customer interactions and generate relevant campaigns to safeguard long-term retailer relationships and customer lifetime value. GK Engage can be integrated with merchandise master data and customer data to ensure all recommendations, promotions, coupons and more are beneficial to the individual customer, as well as the retailer’s current inventory availability and financial goals. What’s more, GK Engage is already integrated into GK’s OmniPOS solution across all touch points including traditional POS, self-checkout kiosks, mobile, and frictionless store technology like GK GO. “GK Engage was created for any retailer, regardless of where they are in their loyalty journey,” said Michael Jaszczyk, chief digital transformation officer, GK and CEO, GK Americas. “The solution is extremely flexible. For some retailers, GK Engage will serve as a complete solution, while others may integrate the solution into a CRM or an existing customer offer system. I look forward to presenting GK Engage alongside our other innovative solutions at the now unveiled GK Customer Experience Center.” Today and tomorrow, GK customers and partners from across the U.S., Latin America and Canada are gathering at GK’s US headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina to take part in the 2023 GK Retail Innovation Summit. In addition to hearing from renowned retail experts like Greg Buzek, founder and president, IHL Group, attendees can visit GK’s new Customer Experience Center. The center showcases GK technology and allows viewers to envision a modern, efficient and exceptional shopper experience across various key touch points including the point-of-sale, the fuel pump and the e-commerce site. At the Customer Experience Center, prospective retail customers can hear from solution experts who will help them to design the best solution deployment for their end-customers. The technology featured in the center includes GK Engage, GK OmniPOS, self check-out, GK Drive, GK GO, GK AIR (artificial intelligence for retail) and fraud prevention solutions from Fujitsu, which invested in GK as a strategic investor earlier this year. About GK GK breaks down the barriers to unified commerce with its open CLOUD4RETAIL platform and a broad portfolio based on it, like OmniPOS for point of sale, mobile POS, mobile customer engagement and a full range of store/back-office solutions. The company is a recognized leader in omnichannel retail, offering a single, global software platform for all retail formats and touch points. Ten of the Top 50 retailers worldwide rely on GK, and GK is the fastest growing global POS provider in new installations over the last three years. For more information, visit www.gk-software.com.

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