If you’re a business owner, you know how important it is to have an SKU rationalization strategy. With so many products on the market, it can be overwhelming to try and keep track of them all. SKU rationalization helps you reduce the number of SKUs (stock-keeping units) in your inventor to save time and money – helping you focus on the products that are selling well.
What is an SKU?
An SKU is a unique identifier for a product or service. Businesses typically use it to track inventory, which is also a key component of barcodes. SKUs can be either numeric or alphanumeric, and businesses can decide how long or short their SKUs will be. By keeping track of SKUs, businesses can ensure that they are pricing and stocking their products correctly and that customers can easily find the items they need. In addition, SKUs can help businesses keep track of inventory levels and sales patterns.
What is SKU Rationalization?
SKU rationalization is the process of reducing the number of SKUs within a company to streamline operations and reduce costs. It is often done as part of a larger cost-cutting initiative and can involve eliminating duplicate or redundant SKUs, consolidating SKUs, and discontinuing slow-moving or obsolete SKUs. SKU rationalization can be complex and challenging, but it can ultimately lead to a more efficient and effective inventory management system.
What is an SKU Strategy?
An SKU strategy is a plan for how a company will use different SKUs, or stock-keeping units, to track inventory and pricing for their products. The goal of an SKU strategy is to make it easy for a company to keep track of its products and sell them at a competitive price.
Benefits of SKU Rationalization
SKU rationalization can be a complex process, but the benefits are clear. Here are some reasons to consider SKU rationalization for your business.
Streamlines Warehouse Management
Inventory management is a key component of effective warehouse management, and streamlining your inventory through measuring SKU productivity can significantly impact your bottom line. In order to rationalize your SKUs, you’ll need to take a close look at your inventory and sales data to identify which items are selling well and which are languishing on the shelves. Once you’ve identified the problem SKUs, you can take steps to discontinue or consolidate them. Fewer SKUs means less inventory to manage.
Better Inventory Management
If your company is struggling with excess inventory or inefficient inventory management, SKU rationalization may be the right solution. If you know exactly how much of a product you have in stock, you can avoid over-ordering or run out of stock. Better inventory management can result in several benefits for a company. Perhaps most importantly, it can help to improve efficiency and cut costs. Better inventory management can also help a company to avoid potential legal and compliance problems. Businesses can minimize the risk of recalls or other issues by ensuring that products are appropriately labeled and stored.
Improves Product Lifecycle Management
Businesses can reduce the complexity of their inventory management by reducing the number of SKUs, making it easier to track stock levels and forecast future demand. This can help to improve supply chain efficiency and minimize stockouts. SKU rationalization can lead to improved product lifecycle management and a more efficient and effective product range. Businesses should consider rationalizing their SKUs regularly to ensure that their product range is optimized for their needs.
Strengthen Brand Identity
SKU rationalization can help you build a stronger brand identity by simplifying your inventory, making it easier for customers to identify your products. Having too many SKUs can confuse customers and make it easier for them to find the right product. When you reduce the number of SKUs you offer, you can focus on quality over quantity. This allows you to create a higher-quality product that is more likely to be successful in the marketplace.
Conclusion
In order to be successful, SKU rationalization must be carefully planned and executed, taking into account the company’s and its customers’ specific needs. When done correctly, SKU rationalization can be a powerful tool for reducing inventory costs and improving overall company performance.
