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How Having A Category Management Strategy Will Benefit Your Business?

November 8, 2024 Business

The cognitive behavior of the human mind adapts to the way we structure our lives. It is known that few people are particular about their personal space like house, kitchen, bedroom, closet, and work desk. They like to keep it well organized and have an urge to keep everything back in order once something is used. Some people live in a maze and struggle to find a matching pair of socks without toppling over laundry piles. It is anybody’s guess as to who spends less time getting ready to go out and get things done. The organizational traits of the former group of people are the basis for category management that helps in achieving exceptional results. 

A well-structured inventory and sourcing are aided through category management that helps both the tools. It gives a framework that aids in predictive analytics to help streamline inventory and sourcing. Prediction is promoted through categorization for demand assessment and removing supply blocks. Order coming after a disorder is time-consuming and a learning phase that teaches us to maintain it. Classification and sorting help in storing the products in a safer space. The overall cost of inventory and sourcing is reduced by predicting the category spends. Here are ways category management will prove advantageous for your business:

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Category management platforms use AI and machine learning tools that help in analyzing vast amounts of data in a few minutes. Predicting future trends is easier with data-crunched insights. One will know if they need to order or manufacture more or reduce the capacity to avoid overstocking with an automated CM approach. Assorting products, dynamic pricing, promotions to increase visibility and streamlined distribution is possible powered with data. 

Sensible Inventory Levels

A business entity leaves a margin for extras; this margin has to be a sensible measure that can be assessed as per the change in demand levels for effective inventory management. Overstocking will lead to stock being spoiled for perishables and losing relevance through outdation for non-perishables. It also increases the cost of holding the stock and the rise in interest for funds taken to fund the inventory. With category management, predicting the optimum inventory level to meet the near future demands is simple. 

Spending Pattern Analysis

Getting to know the purchase spend analysis per cost center will help in optimizing the resources. Contrarily, the spending patterns of buyers will give the additional insights one needs to confirm if the inventory levels have to be spiked or reduced. It also gives the marketing team promotional strategies to move the aging stock of products that are losing their popularity for cyclical reasons. 

Better Relations

Category management helps in improving relationships with suppliers and customers equally. When a business orders in bulk and in groups, then vendors are able to offer better discounts.

Conclusion

A structured approach to the classification of inventory helps both the manufacturing and servicing sectors. It helps in pricing and negotiating better terms which is agreeable to both parties and is a win-win deal.