SSCS’s Lula Interface Gets an Omnichannel Upgrade

Syncing promotions across third-party delivery platforms is more seamless than ever for CDB back office users.

Among other benefits, a back office system like the Computerized Daily Book (CDB) functions as an exchange point for the data coming in and out of the store. It’s not hard to picture the back office as the digital heart of the enterprise, with its lifeblood being the digital information it processes—it’s filled with metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) that give insight into a c-store’s health.

It’s like monitoring human vitals in a way, but the c-store requires more scrutiny. Back office data streams are constantly flowing with change: postings from the POS, invoices scanned at delivery, imported EDI files, exports to third-party accounting programs. New channels develop all the time, too,[1] one of the most notable being the recent uptick in third-party order and delivery companies.

These companies represent a considerable profit opportunity for c-stores who manage to get their merchandise into the flow, as the c-store retailer gets to place selected inventory items in in front of countless new customers. There is a challenge, though: these new channels generate additional tributaries of retail data to monitor. And because SSCS wants to put our customers in the best possible position to capture maximum profit, we’ve been developing ways to make sure our retailers tap into these third-party opportunities.

A good example is the interface we built to Lula Commerce, which makes c-store items available on multiple delivery platforms with one common setup. This interface has recently been enhanced to allow promotion-related discounts to sync across all participating order/delivery platforms. The Lula Commerce Interface gets the data from the CDB, translates it, and applies appropriate discounts, updating menu prices across delivery companies. The retailer gets computerized accuracy and the competitive edge that comes from getting good in-store deals to digital consumers—without unduly increasing the complexity of daily work.

If you’re a c-store retailer that’s looking to capitalize on third party ordering and delivery, but are put off by what looks like a lot of moving parts, the Lula Interface for the CDB can simplify the process significantly. Get every last drop of profit from your third-party agreements without increasing your workload. Sound valuable? Give us a call at (800) 972-7727 and we can talk about it.

[1] A feed of rebate, discount, and buydown information from tobacco manufacturers, which we covered a couple of weeks ago, are an example.