How does ISO 9001 apply to retail and what are its benefits?
If you have been in the retail world for any length of time you will know how competitive it is. You will also know how important the customers are for your business.
And of course, let us not forget about the products that need to meet the expectations of all your consumers, and all the consumers that you are trying to get.
The retail industry is ruthless, and any help that you can get to boost your brand is a benefit. ISO 9001 certification is one of those edges that you can use to your advantage.
Let us dig a little deeper into the benefits that ISO 9001 can offer your retail location.
● Supply chain: The one thing that this pandemic has shown us all is how important supply chains are.
As a local retailer you depend upon your business partners to keep your shelves full for the customers that need them.
When one supply chain breaks down, it affects your business, your competitors, and your customers. ISO 9001 will implement management principles and systems that will maximise your supply chain goods. This is achieved by allowing your orders to be more on point, with less backstock inventory.
● Audits: You are all versed in inventory, audits, and outside companies that can come in and do both.
It may seem like a hassle that interrupts your flow of business, but with an ISO 9001 certificate you are stating that your management systems are at the top of their game in creating processes and procedures for product and service quality
● Risk: Every business has risks that they need to consider in order to grow.
If you do not take risks, you will never expand your business. No expansion means less profits at the end of the year. ISO 9001 will set guidelines for you that will help you decide if the risk in front of you is worth trying to achieve.
As an example, if it takes you in a direction away from the guidelines that ISO has set, it would be a risk left for others. If it does go along with your industry, it would be a risk worth taking because it could raise you up to the next level of retail.
● Opportunities: This goes along with the point above. Opportunities are endless if you look for them, but you need to know what will benefit your retail business, and what would set you back too much to make it a good opportunity.
ISO guidelines will detail the direction that you should be going, and it will allow you to make an educated decision on whether or not you should jump at the opportunity placed in front of you, or if you should turn your back on it and let someone else deal with it.
Retail is an industry that can make you a ton of money, or it can put you so far into the hole that you have no choice other than to close the doors.
ISO 9001 guidelines will help you keep on the right track, it will tell your customers and business partners, directly or indirectly, that you are serious about your industry, and it shows everyone that you are at the top of the retail world
