Retail audit app: secure way to prevent fraudulent check-ins

One of the biggest issues merchandising agencies, CPG manufacturers, and retailers face is the fraudulent check-ins of merchandisers and auditors.

Fraudulent check-ins, besides being unethical, can lead to a host of issues for businesses. Out all of them, fraudulent check-ins are especially detrimental due to the consequential overlooking of mission-critical issues such as out-of-stocks, hazardous displays, or damaged shipments. In a day and age when losing a sale can mean losing a customer (or customers!) to online shopping, brick-and-mortar retail operations cannot afford such oversight.

But how to prevent or even eliminate fraudulent check-ins of merchandisers and reps? Implementing an effective retail audit is the answer for that.

Having a retail audit app allows for the GPS tracking of field reps and retail auditors through an app on their mobile devices, therefore enabling the monitoring of in-store activities by marketing and merchandising managers and the verification of user location at the time of each activity. With such information in hand, it becomes easier for management.

Moreover, implementing a retail audit app provides a complete platform for managing retail audits, with tools that include:

• Form customization with mobile data capture, including photos and signatures
• Visit scheduling, planning, and routing
• Real-time map view of field rep activity
• Management of store distribution lists and visual planograms
• Notification of store visits
• Reporting on activities, locations, and users