Using PLU and SKU numbers

POS SOFTWARE

 

Using PLU and SKU Numbers to Streamline Your Retail Business

Running a retail business requires careful attention to the details. Managing your stock and inventory efficiently is crucial for keeping things running smoothly. This is where PLU (price look-up) codes and SKU (stock keeping unit) numbers come in. Implementing these simple tools can help streamline your operations and save you time and money.

Read on to learn how these codes can help you speed up checkout, better track inventory, improve purchasing efficiency, and more!

What Are PLU and SKU Numbers?

Before we dive into the benefits, let’s define what exactly PLU and SKU numbers are:

PLU codes are universal identifier numbers assigned to products, particularly produce items and other goods sold loose without barcodes. For example, a PLU code for a Granny Smith apple might be 4152. Suppliers assign these 4-5 digit codes and allow retailers to look at pricing and inventory data for produce.

Retailers can optionally use a range between 3170-3269 to create their own internal PLU codes for produce items. Please do not count on them being available, though. Many suppliers are idiots and will occasionally supply items with these PLUs. Interestingly, this happens in newsagencies despite standard stock file standard requirements explicitly forbidding this practice.

SKU numbers are unique ID codes that retailers assign to track stock-keeping units. They allow you to monitor specific product variants in your inventory. For example, you may assign SKU #101 to Coca-Cola Can 375mL, SKU #102 to Coca-Cola Bottle 1L, etc. These 1-3 digit codes help differentiate product sizes, colours, flavours, etc.

Now, let’s look at why using PLU and SKU numbers can benefit your business.

Key Benefits of Using PLU and SKU Numbers

Implementing PLU codes and SKU numbers offers several advantages that can help streamline operations and boost efficiency:

Faster Checkout and Fewer Errors

PLU and SKU numbers speed up the checkout process by allowing cashiers to simply enter a code instead of searching through the system for the product. This is especially helpful for loose produce items that don’t have barcodes.

Fewer steps mean fewer opportunities for mistakes. Cashiers won’t have to guess which cucumber or apple variety they select. Quickly entering PLU and SKU codes results in faster customer service and shorter checkout lines.

Better Inventory Tracking

When each product variant has its unique SKU number, you gain much tighter control over inventory tracking. Your point-of-sale system can generate detailed reports by SKU showing exactly which items are in stock, which are selling fastest, and which need reordered.

This granular data makes it easier to minimize excess inventory and stock the right amount of each item. No more guessing how many of each t-shirt size or colour to order. The sales velocity by SKU tells you exactly what’s moving.

Increased Efficiency for Purchasing and Receiving

Standardizing your SKU system greatly improves efficiency when purchasing inventory and receiving deliveries. Purchase orders, delivery paperwork, and item labels must only display the SKU to identify each product variant.

Employees will immediately know exactly which item or size is being ordered or received just by glancing at the SKU number, speeding up processing time considerably.

Improved Data and Analytics

With all inventory uniformly tracked and identified by SKU, your sales reports and analytics become much more useful. POS reports can break down sales and profits by specific product variants rather than just lumping all similar items together.

You can see which SKUs have the highest profit margins, fastest inventory turns, or slowest sales velocity. This allows smarter purchasing and promotion decisions. You can also identify underperforming items that may need to be discounted or discontinued.

Setting it up is very easy.

1: Open Stock Maintenance and look up the item.
2: Click on the "Prices" tab
3: Scroll to the far right on the pricing grid to see the "PLU" field.
4: Click EDIT and enter a number here (for example, 101 for an SKU and 4152 was the PLU for the apple above)
5: Click SAVE

Now, in the cash register, when you are ringing up a sale, enter the PLU into the "price entry" box, and press ENTER, and our point of sale will find the item immediately!

PLU and SKU Best Practices

To maximize the benefits of using PLU codes and SKU numbers, keep these best practices in mind:

Keep SKU numbers short and simple - Long, complicated SKU codes lead to errors when entering the POS and paperwork. Stick to 1-3 digits if at all possible.

Be consistent - Decide on a standardized format for your SKU numbering and stick to it (e.g. category letter + sequence number). Please don’t make it overly complex. For example, one of our clients that sells T-shirts uses SKU starting with #1 for the small size of a V-neck T-shirt, SKU #2 for the medium, SKU #3 for the large, etc. This allows precise tracking of each inventory item.

The main advantage of SKUs is that retailers can customize them to fit their needs. They might encode specific attributes into each SKU.

For example, they were starting SKUs with a "B" for blue products "R" for red products. Or "S" for small, "M" for medium", and "L" for large. This can help employees quickly identify products.

Assign unique codes - Never reuse SKU numbers, even for discontinued items. Your retired products should still show their historical sales data.

Print SKUs on labels - Clearly printing the SKU on product packaging, shelves, or item tags makes it fast and easy for cashiers to enter.

Cross-train staff - Don’t just train cashiers. Ensure everyone, from inventory managers to purchasers, knows how to use and apply SKUs.

Conclusion

As a retailer, implementing PLU codes and SKU numbers requires some initial work but pays off tremendously through savings in time and money. Your business will benefit from faster checkout, tighter inventory control, increased purchasing efficiency, and improved sales data.

Contact our team to learn more about setting up and using PLUs and SKUs in your retail operation. We would happily advise you on the best practices and system options to boost productivity. Investing in these simple tools will streamline your business for years.

 

 

 

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