5 Tools Retailers Use to Boost Productivity
I think you will agree with me when I say running a successful retail business is no easy task. There is just so much to do, and so little time. Problems always crop up, and they eat up more of the business hours you’re trying so hard to save.
What to do?
Turns out you can boost productivity and achieve more by turning to business automation tools. That’s right; you don’t have to break your back trying to handle every business task manually. With the help of the tools we outline in this post, you can boost your productivity tremendously, which means more profit at the end of the day.
Read on to discover 5 of the best tools you can use to eliminate inefficiencies in your day to day workflow. By the end of the post, you will have all you need to save time, make your staff happier and net more sales.
5 Tools Retailers Use to Boost Productivity
Retailers like you depend on the following tools to keep their businesses running optimally. You can try most of these tools for free, but we always recommend springing for the premium versions so you can enjoy the full range of features.
That being said let us get started.
Zapier
We are huge proponents of business automation, seeing as it saves a lot of time and promote employee output. Retailers are ever busy, meaning you don’t have enough time to move data between your web apps and focus on business operations. If you have a retail business, you can leverage the power of automation technology thanks to Zapier.
Zapier allows you to start workflows from any app and finish routine tasks automatically, which saves you a lot of time. For instance, you can copy an attachment to Dropbox when you receive a new email in Gmail and get a notification about the attachment in Slack.
Zapier supports more than 1,000 apps meaning you can automate your entire retail business like a boss. With your web apps working together in the background, you can focus on running/growing your retail business because you won’t miss important information.
It’s like having an extra team member who links your systems together and manages the push and pull of data on autopilot.
Zipline
Do you dream of boosting employee engagement in your brick-and-mortar stores? If that’s a resounding, start by streamlining communications and task management within your business. Usually, when communication breaks down, store execution falls behind.
Say goodbye to antiquated technology, endless email, and countless documents and welcome Zipline. Retail Zipline is a modern tool that helps retailers to coordinate their fleet of stores by streamlining communications between HQ and the field.
Retail Zipline offers you a suite of tools such as personalized messages/tasks, resource library, surveys, and an intuitive chat module. Retail Zipline is suitable for all business – big or small, and easy to roll out. On top of that, the tool is mobile-friendly meaning you can track store execution on the go.
Retail Zipline is cloud-based meaning you can access the tool from anywhere on the planet.
Hootsuite
At this time and age, you cannot ignore the importance of having a solid social media presence for your retail business. Your target audience throngs social media websites in search of entertainment, news and products. They also follow the brands they love and keep up with friends and family.
These followers are brand ambassadors that take your business to more people. As such, you must endeavor to create a strong social media community around your retail brand. It is a huge part of modern-day marketing, so pay attention.
To manage your business profiles like a pro, you need a tool that won’t disappoint. Ladies and gents, say a big hello to Hootsuite, a social media marketing and management dashboard on steroids. Hootsuite helps you to manage all of your social media profiles in one centralized dashboard.
You can save a lot of time by scheduling your posts, and measure the impact of social media marketing thanks to comprehensive reporting. Further, you can filter social conversations to easily hear what people are saying about your brand, which saves time while informing your outreach strategy.
WorkflowMax
Project management is an important part of any business. If you run an online retail outfit, you must manage your workflows efficiently so as to maximize profitability. Inefficiencies in your workflow will only slow down your business, disappoint your customers, burn out employees and affect your revenues negatively.
WorkflowMax is the only workflow and job management tool you will ever need no matter your needs. The tool allows you to manage your workflow from quote to invoice. On top of that, WorkflowMax allows you to track time and costs without breaking a sweat.
WorkflowMax is trusted by over 10,000 customers thanks to features such as instant quotes, time trackers, streamlined invoicing, job management and detailed reports. Since the tool is cloud-based, you can collaborate across your stores/offices.
Slack
Inefficient communication steals a lot of time from your retail business, killing productivity. Modern chat apps such as Whatsapp are great for chatting with employees, but lack productivity features that foster work-conducive chat environment.
Enters Slack and the day is saved. Their tagline reads, “Slack, where work happens…” and it rings true. According to the official website, “Slack is a collaboration hub for work, no matter what work you do.” Yep, that means retail business too.
If you are looking to communicate with your team in real time, you’ll definitely love Slack integrations. The tool is packed to the brim with all the features you need to collaborate with your team. Most times, you will feel like you’re collaborating with your team in person.
Slack ships with features such as channels that allow you organize communication, search functionality, military-grade security, video calls, file sharing, countless app integrations and so much more.
Honorable Mentions
Where productivity tools for your retail business are concerned, we want you to find only the best. Below are a couple of honorable mentions.
- GoCo.io – Helps you to manage employee salaries and benefits
- Shipstation – Top of the range order fulfillment and shipping tool
- Time Doctor – Track how employees spend time
We hope the above tools will help you to boost productivity as you run your retail business.
