Why Multi-Location Inventory Management Needs A Smarter Approach
45% of surveyed retailers cite manual inventory processes as one of the biggest barriers to effective multi-location inventory management.
Source: PwC’s “2023 Global Digital IQ Survey”.
Are you juggling multiple retail locations and overwhelmed by the challenge of managing inventory across different stores, warehouses and sales channels?
Do you ever wonder if there’s a smarter, simpler way to track stock levels, prevent costly stockouts and respond quickly to shifting customer demand?
Struggling with these challenges? You’re not alone.
Multi-Location inventory management can get complicated fast, especially as your business grows and your supply chain expands. That’s where a Retail ERP system can make all the difference.
Real-Time Visibility
Imagine having a real-time snapshot of your entire inventory – every product, in every location, across every channel.
No more guesswork. No more surprises.
One of the most significant benefits of a Retail ERP for Multi-Location inventory management is precisely this real-time visibility. By integrating data from all points of sale and all your warehouses or stores, an ERP automatically updates stock levels whenever a purchase is made or a new shipment arrives. You get a single source of truth to help you avoid embarrassing moments where a customer requests an item you think you have – until you realise the last unit was sold a few hours earlier at another location.
79% of retailers said real-time inventory visibility is their primary focus for improving operational efficiency.
Source: Deloitte’s “2022 Retail & Consumer Products Digital Supply Chain Survey” (published 2022).
Centralised Stock Control
Visibility alone isn’t enough.
You also need centralised control to coordinate stock movements across different branches. Think about how often one store sits on slow-moving inventory while another store faces a fast sell-out. With a robust ERP, you can easily transfer excess stock from one location to where it’s needed most. This approach helps prevent overstocking in some locations and shortages in others.
82% of retailers that fully integrated ERP across multiple store locations reported a 25% reduction in stockouts.
Source: KPMG’s “Global Retail Survey” (2022).
Automated Stock Replenishment
Tired of manually calculating when to restock – and risking human error?
Forget the guesswork! With preset rules and thresholds, automated replenishment keeps your best-sellers in stock and eliminates overstocking.
Set reorder points and when inventory dips below the limit, the system alerts you or places an order automatically. No delays, no errors – just the right stock, exactly when you need it.
Spend less time managing inventory and more time growing your business.
Companies using cloud ERP systems with automated stock replenishment have seen up to a 30% reduction in stockholding costs and a 35% improvement in inventory turnover rates within the first year.Source: Deloitte’s “Cloud ERP: Driving Agility and Resilience in Retail” (2023).
Integration with Sales Data
Another benefit of an ERP is its seamless integration with sales data. Think about how helpful it would be to forecast demand spikes based on past buying behaviour, seasonal trends or regional differences. When your sales and inventory data communicate, you know what’s selling, where it’s selling and how fast. This insight makes sure each location has exactly the right stock it needs – no more, no less.
74% of companies that implemented a cloud-based ERP system improved forecasting accuracy by 25–30%.
Source: Accenture’s “Unlocking Value from Cloud ERP” study (2022).
Use Cases
- Fashion Retailers: A fashion retailer might use a Retail ERP to handle seasonal outfits, making sure it gets delivered to high-traffic stores first – for example flagship stores and pop-up locations.
- Wholesalers and B2B Retailers: Wholesalers and B2B retailers could easily track stock across multiple warehouses and distribution points – moving inventory to avoid overstock and shortages and ensure every location is fully stocked and ready to deliver – smooth, smart and reliable.
In both cases, the system does the heavy lifting, so you can focus on delivering what customers want, exactly when they want it.
Take Control with Stok.ly Cloud ERP
Managing inventory across multiple locations doesn’t have to be a headache. A Retail ERP gives you real-time visibility, centralised control, automated replenishment and seamless data integration to stay on top of your stock – anytime, anywhere.
Ready to take control?
Stok.ly Cloud ERP helps retailers of all sizes reduce stockouts, cut waste and streamline inventory management with ease.
Stop guessing and start knowing exactly what’s in stock – everywhere, every time.