If you run or work in a retail business over a certain size, then it is almost certain that you will have made use of software of some kind to organize and carry out the myriad tasks inherent in running such a business. Software can effectively track inventory and project changes in demand; software can help with financial planning and account for cash flow problems that might necessitate the need for some kind of debt factoring. It can also analyze the data necessary for accurately predicting business growth. There is also software which can do all of this and more – it is called an ROS.
What is an ROS?
ROS is an acronym for retail operating system. The great benefit of having one is that all business tasks can be streamlined, simplified, and most importantly, automated. For this to work, an ROS naturally needs to have a large amount of company data inputted, but when that is done properly, it is amazing what an ROS can achieve. fastFACTR, an invoice factoring service out of Utah working with small-to-medium sized ecommerce ventures, have noted that many of their clients were alerted to their cash flow problems (and the need for invoice factoring) by the ROS they were using.
It is not really surprising that such a thing is possible. Recent advancements in AI have been truly staggering, and the degree of automation within every task from organizing a warehouse to making a cup of tea is one of the marked effects of new technology on modern business and society. For real insight into your business then, an ROS is indispensable.
What Does an ROS Do?
An ROS needs to work with a lot of data regarding your enterprise but, once it has this, it can make all sorts of predictions and projections (as well as managing things in the here and now, as well). An ROS allows you to automate manual workflows, gain insight and visibility over each of your distinct sales channels (as well as how they work together), and accurately forecast customer demand. The latter of these is particularly important, simply because forecasting customer demand is necessary for business growth, and it needs to crunch a lot of data to be accurate. To be sure, forecasting demand is more than a matter of extrapolating recent trends, and an ROS has the power to incorporate other factors such as seasonal demand, general market growth, and so on.
Do I Need an ROS (Advantages)
So, should you get an ROS for your business? The best way to figure this out is to look at what it can offer. Here are some of the advantages of this remarkable technology:
Automate Workflows
From arranging dropshipping to generating invoices, there is much that an ROS can do automatically. This makes everything faster and cuts labor costs, as well.
Predict Demand
We have touched already, but it is worth repeating that an ROS can accurately predict demand, taking on board many more factors than would be possible from any manual calculation. The market, for example, can shift in an instant; an ROS will take this into account and adjust its findings accordingly.
Meet Customer Expectations
Customers expect a good deal more than simple next day delivery these days. Now, it all seems to revolve around the total personalization of the shopping experience, as well as the desire for more non-traditional retail channels. Incorporating that into daily businesses operations can be tough, but an ROS can certainly help.
An ROS is not a complete solution for businesses success, but it certainly looks like one.