No Pos? No problem

Sharing Point-of-Sales (PoS) Data with Suppliers

Sharing point-of-sales (PoS) data with suppliers has proven beneficial for both parties across multiple industries. Major producers and retailers have been doing this for decades, enjoying the benefits of streamlined operations and enabling vendor-managed-inventory or consignment stock. Recently, retailers have turned a feed of PoS data into a revenue model for their supply base, as it contains valuable information for a broad group of suppliers.

In short, PoS data creates visibility of actual consumption patterns and can be used to optimize distribution and sometimes even production plans. This is especially relevant for parties with broad distribution across many points, e.g., direct-store-delivery (DSD).

Rather than waiting for the next order, PoS data allows vendors to anticipate where needs arise and adapt their distribution accordingly.

The problem is that these benefits can only be enjoyed with timely, accurate, and granular PoS data.

MOOS for PoS Augmentation

For our discussion, we'll distinguish two types of PoS data sharing:

1. Full and timely sharing of detailed PoS data: Here suppliers can delve into the full richness of what's happening with their products across all points-of-sale, at any time.

2. Problematic sharing: There are several ways in which the promise of PoS data is curbed:

• Data shared in an aggregated form, losing insight into specific SKU/shelf/site patterns. A variant of this issue occurs when PoS data is sampled and extrapolated.
• Significantly delayed PoS data, e.g., with monthly data services. This creates intel for diagnostics but is too late to respond to demand changes.
• Other common data service issues with coverage or accuracy.

The first situation is rare and often restricted to long-term trusted buyer-supplier relationships. The latter is more common, diminishing its value. In those cases, MOOS can play a role in PoS data augmentation or replacement for more timely, accurate, or precise vendor intel.

MOOS as Pseudo-PoS

The more challenging situation occurs when there is no PoS data. This happens when there is no transaction or sale, but stock is procured in aggregate, distributed to one or several points-of-use, and replenished upon a check, central trigger (min. threshold), or schedule. This is very common in many workplaces, such as:

• Office supplies across various locations
• Pantry supplies on each office floor
• Cleaning supplies in facility management cabinets
• Medical supplies at each hospital department/room or trolley
• (Spare) parts at each maintenance station or service car

The same inventory situation and visibility into actual consumption patterns and inventory levels could unlock the same benefits for suppliers – and ultimately buyers – as PoS data sharing.

MOOS has a unique ability to retrofit shelves, cabinets, and pretty much any storage space to create this insight. This spreads the benefits of PoS data sharing to non-PoS situations. Benefits can be enjoyed on both sides:

• Buyers can reduce the hassle of ordering, counting, checking, streamline local replenishment operations of various stock-keeping locations, and operate with less safety stock at each location.
• Vendors can anticipate stock movement and adapt their distribution, reducing transportation costs and increasing service levels.

We are proud to be able to unlock these benefits in "non-PoS" situations. Get in touch to see what this could mean for your operations.