6 tips for managing omnichannel grocery inventory

The recent growth of omnichannel grocery shopping has pushed grocery retailers to rethink how best to manage operations. Now that many consumers prefer to buy their groceries online, grocery store systems and processes must be updated to account for the e-commerce side of the business. One of the key changes grocery retailers need to consider is how to take an omnichannel approach to grocery store inventory management.

In this article, we’ll address why omnichannel grocery store inventory management is important and how to do it effectively. Read on to learn more about:

• Key considerations for managing online grocery inventory
• The benefits of effective omnichannel grocery inventory and catalog management
• Strategies for improving online inventory management
• How Uber Eats can help

Grocery inventory management isn't a new priority for stores, but doing it effectively is more complicated when handling orders through multiple channels. Creating a system that works as well for your online customers as for those who shop in-store requires addressing a few essential areas:

• Product selection. Offering the broadest possible selection of inventory in your online catalog shows customers that they don’t have to sacrifice choice when they order delivery. Plus, on third-party marketplaces like Uber Eats, a large selection can promote discovery by giving your store more opportunities to appear in item searches.

  
  

• Fulfillment. Delivering incomplete orders due to out-of-stock items will cause your fulfillment rates to take a hit. This can translate directly to a loss of revenue and trust with your customers—discouraging them from placing future orders. To prevent this, integrate your online catalog to accurately reflect which items are out of stock, and have enough SKUs to offer customers suitable substitutions when their first choices aren’t available.

  
  

• Store navigation. Items that are popular online need to be easy for shoppers to locate and package. When you integrate your catalog, be sure to include the precise aisle location for each SKU to help shoppers navigate your store and pick orders more efficiently.

  
  

• Inventory visibility and forecasting. Keeping the right quantity of each product in stock at all times can become more complicated when customers are ordering across channels. To ensure you have accurate visibility into your inventory, it's important to use software that allows you to integrate your inventory across all channels. This will also help with forecasting and can provide a window into consumer shopping habits by channel.

Updating your grocery inventory and catalog management processes to better accommodate e-grocery can produce notable benefits across your business. In particular, it can help:

• Protect your bottom line. When you have a large selection of items available online, you can increase order volume and fulfill larger orders.

  
  

• Improve customer satisfaction. When a customer can get everything they want each time they place an order with you, it creates a better experience for them. Satisfied customers are more likely to stick with you for all their future grocery needs.

  
  

• Streamline shopping operations. When shoppers have access to accurate inventory information and can easily search for items that a customer ordered online, they’ll pick orders more efficiently and make fewer errors.