A great new feature now available in Aralco Back Office system is the option to apply a "Scheduler" to any report available in Aralco. This will let you setup the time to run the report when you like (set your own Day of the Week, Time to run) and have it emailed to one or more recipients.

Once this is set up, the system will automatically load the report and run it at the preset day & time and forward the HTML report to your email address. This is a great time saver as well very useful when you need to run a certain report at a certain time (e.g. Month/ Year End), especially if that date happens to fall on a weekend/ holiday.

I heard prior to this feature, customers used to pay overtime to have their staff come in after hours to run reports and have them ready for management for first thing in the morning!

Retailers can plow through uncertain economic times by effectively using their POS and Inventory Management Systems. Getting the most out of your retail system will save you time, increase your profits letting you rise above your competition.

Sales reports identify your best and worst selling items. Especially in times like these you need to focus on your strengths and let go of your weaknesses. Once you identify your best selling items, work diligently at promoting these items and becoming the go-to place to find these items. You'll find that an intelligent stock replenishment system can be adjusted to the current economic climate.

You want to cater to your best customers and there are several ways you can use your customer relationship management system to entice them into the store.

This is the time to make the best use of your electronic traffic counter to monitor your store traffic. With this device you can identify your high traffic areas and times and staff accordingly, saving you money on staffing while improving customer service.

Outside of the store you need to take care of your online presence. Shoppers browse online to save time and money. Customers also save on the cost of fuel spent driving from store to store, while retailers benefit from higher sales with less staff. Your ecommerce store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at comparatively little cost.

You can greatly benefit by taking advantage of these simple tips. Economic storms always pass, and when this one does you'll be miles above your competition.

Are you looking for ways to stay connected with your client base? HTML newsletters are an excellent way to entice your clients to visit your stores.

You can begin by gathering email addresses of frequent shoppers and entering them in customer files at the POS. Place a link on your website so that customers can sign up for newsletters. Another way to entice customers to share their email address is to offer a draw prize.

HTML newsletters, if done effectively, can build customer relationships. You can use them as a tool for sending news about your company, product tips, decorating ideas, technical tips for electronic equipment, recipes etc.

The point is to get them interested; give them reason to keep reading. Your customers will find value in your newsletter and consider you an authority on the subject.

Of course, sending coupons and advertising promotions is the number one reason why retailers turn to HTML newsletters.

Customers follow the links from your newsletter to your website to check out the products available online.

Spend time designing your newsletter. Make it attractive, sleek, and professional. It represents your company so make sure it says what you want to say and speaks your language. HTML newsletters can act like flyers, advertising the latest promotions and seasonal sales, but they can also be personalized. Using Aralco you can send HTML newsletters and personalize them to each individual customer. It's as simple as running a customer report with the name, email address and any additional information you need.

Don't send newsletters too often, you don't want them to end up in your customers' junk mail folder, but do send them on a regular basis; if you do it right customers will look forward to your messages.