Transform your daily operations by unlocking the powerful insights hidden in your point-of-sale system.
Many retailers are unaware of how to access crucial business information from their point-of-sale system. But your POS system holds valuable data that can help you sell more and make better decisions about your stock.
Why Yesterday's Sales Matter - Don't Disappoint Your Customers
Knowing what sold yesterday is one of the most important things you can track. Here's something interesting: about 70% of your best-selling items from yesterday are likely to be your best sellers again today. If you sold many blue t-shirts yesterday, you'll probably need stock of them today too.
Real Impact: Imagine 100 customers come to your shop today. About 70 of them will want to buy the same popular items that sold well yesterday. If you don't have enough stock of these items, you'll disappoint these customers. They might leave empty-handed and go to your competitor instead.
This is why tracking yesterday's sales is crucial. Knowing what's selling well helps you stock enough, preventing lost sales of popular items and satisfying customers.
How to Find Yesterday's Sales in Your POS System
Getting this information is easier than you might think. Here's what you need to do:
- Go to your cash register section in your POS system
- Look for "Reports" or "Register Reports"
- Find the "Top N Sales in a Given Period" option
- Enter yesterday's date and see your best-selling products
Do this every day, and you'll start to see this 70% rule at work.
Why This Data Helps Your Business
There's a business rule that says, "If you can't measure it, you can't fix it." Retail stores benefit from monitoring daily sales to make smart stock decisions.
- If red t-shirts are consistently among your top ten sellers, you know to order more red t-shirts
- If green shoes never make the list, maybe you should order fewer green shoes next time
- Most importantly, you must always have the items that 70% of your customers want to buy now
Making Daily Checks Part of Your Routine
Start each day by checking yesterday's sales report. This should become as normal as opening your store or counting your cash register. When you do this every day, you'll quickly learn which products are your money-makers.
You can also use this information to plan. If certain items consistently sell well on weekends, ensure you have extra stock available before Friday. If some products sell better in winter, you can prepare for seasonal changes.
Pro Tip
Set a daily reminder on your phone to check yesterday's sales every morning at 9 AM. After just one week, this will become second nature and your inventory decisions will improve dramatically.
The Bottom Line
Your POS system isn't just a cash register—it's an information hub. Use it to help you understand your customers' needs. Review yesterday's sales to inform better stock decisions.
Ready to unlock the power of your POS data? Contact our experts today to learn more advanced reporting features.
Written by:
Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.
