Taking the Guesswork Out of Tobacco Rebate Management

Every pack counts, so should every rebate. Tobacco Discount Import from SSCS helps make it happen.

The c-store industry is swimming in useful item pricing information, but to leverage it for success, leading operators need c-store technology, tools with enough speed and scope to capture data, organize it, and present it to users meaningfully[1] without making them hunt for it.

As the industry has moved forward, the handling of item and pricing data has become more complex. New variables are entering and affecting the pricing stream, and they’re coming from more sources than ever. These values also happen to change constantly, driven by dynamic third-party vendor and manufacturer agreements. The promotions/rebates/discounts they provide create retail opportunities for the store, but these incentive programs have to be managed with a fine-tooth comb.

In the case of tobacco manufacturer agreements, the onus is on the retailer to know the rules and values of buydown discounts, rebates and multi-pack promotion programs. These can change every quarter, maybe more often. Hundreds of UPCs can be affected. There’s an additional complication, too: many of the reimbursements based on tobacco sales don’t show up until months later. The task has become almost impossible for a c-store to track and handle manually—or with the wrong software.

To address challenges like these, SSCS developed the Tobacco Discount Import (TDI) program to work with our CDBWin back office. After basic setup, the TDI interface provides details from the manufacturer’s file, for instance, which UPCs are on which buydowns and for what date ranges. It’s an enterprise-wide approach, too, so the software can deal with different requirements for different sites.

TDI provides control over information, as well. Though the process is designed to work without manual intervention, a user can still stage, accept, and reject suggested changes as needed, protecting the price book’s integrity. Simplify the way you manage tobacco discounts and manufacturer pricing updates. Call (800) 972-7727 and ask about TDI, CDBWin and how they can shore up tobacco profits.

[1] As well-organized, changeable, user-defined views of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).