1. DEFINE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU SEEK TO ANSWER
Before you begin identifying your data sources or anything else, you must first think carefully about the questions you want to answer and then write them down.
For example, within your top-performing categories, which sub-categories and segments are showing a consistent growth trend?
In defining your question, you’re stopping yourself from getting lost in too much information.
2. IDENTIFYING YOUR DATA SOURCES
After defining your questions, it’s time to identify where you are going to get your data.
Are the required fields in your data warehouse, ERP or POS applications?
3. IDENTIFY WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS REQUIRED
You need a data platform, hardware to host the data, a data transfer method, and a tool from which you will create custom retail analytics.
Excluding the hardware component, both DotActiv Professional and Enterprise cover these requirements comprehensively.
4. TRANSFER DATA
It’s now time to transfer your data from your sources to your platform.
If you’re interested in DotActiv as a solution, it’s worth noting that our team of experts will set up your data transfers to occur automatically on your behalf.
5. CLEAN AND CLASSIFY YOUR DATA
Once you have transferred your data to your data platform, it’s critical to ensure that your data is clean.
If we go back to the example we used above, ensure that you have classified each product line item into the most appropriate category, sub-category, segment, and sub-segment.
6. CREATE YOUR DASHBOARDS
This is your final step, and it’s where all the magic comes to life. DotActiv Professional and Enterprise both come with a set of best practice retail analytics reports that seek to answer the most popular questions asked.
If you have not answered any of your questions yet, you can create customised reports and a category management dashboard.