Importance of Tertiary Sales Visibility in FMCG Industry

Even though the traditional mom and pop retail shops have been getting a lot of attention in recent times, it is the trend of Specialty Stores [Modern Trade Retail Chains] that is really taking off. The Specialty Stores promise big business to the FMCG companies, all thanks to the ever changing attitude of majority of consumers who prefer to shop from specialized stores like Wal-Mart, Spencers, Reliance Retail, Big Bazaar and many more when compared to the stand-alone stores.

Attesting to the fact that consumers have changed their buying perspectives does not make things easier for the FMCG companies. This focus shift has also made the consumer behavior more volatile. An attractive TVC, schemes that work on a buy some get some free model, discounts offered, or a fall in price is enough for the consumer to choose a brand. In a situation as fragile and fickle as this, tracking the sales till the consumption level is very critical for strategic decision making.

Why Specialty Stores are capturing all the Attention of FMCG Industry?
Specialty Stores are the bulk buyers of fast moving & over-the-counter (OTC) products. With thousands of prospective consumers visiting these stores daily, and the evident fact that such products are better exposed and have higher probability of getting sold in small time-frame due to very competitive cost, Specialty Stores have emerged as the hub of attention by sales and marketing strategists of FMCG companies.

Leveraging IT is not an alien concept to majority of the FMCG players, but that often stops till the National Distributors, Stock Keeping Units, or at maximum, the distributor / micro distributor level. To track the ever-changing consumer buying behavior, it is essential to traverse down till the Tertiary level or till a level when the product reaches the hands of the consumers.

In a hypothetical example where the manufacturer of a healthcare product like a disinfectant has a robust method in place, may be a top-notch ERP, to track its Primary product movement and product sale from manufacturer to C & F agent and distributor simultaneously. Some companies also track the secondary level sales from distributor to the sub-distributors; but the last and the most crucial level loses its significance due to multiple challenges in data collection and touch-points. With little knowledge on how consumers are behaving to this disinfectant, the continuous production of the product can come out as a major loss to the manufacturer.
Tracking Sales at Tertiary Level hence becomes one of the key criterions in analyzing:

Consumer buying behavior Production Planning Strategies in the distribution channels & route plan Limitations in consumer knowledge that influence decisions Product Packaging plan How consumer motivation and product development decision strategies co-relate How manufacturers can adapt and improve their marketing campaigns and strategies to reach the consumer more effectively

Tracking the sales manually at any given level is not possible. Unlike the sale of home appliances or electronic items that is relatively slow, the FMCG products sell quickly and in great numbers. They also have varied product categories & SKUs which make it impossible for the FMCG manufacturer to tap the data. Automating the process becomes a mandate; with companies like CalvinKare, Britannia, India Pistons, etc. already cashing on this IT advancement.

Tertiary Sales is a great criteria for knowing the consumer buying behavior, which inadvertently also acts as product testimonial. Drawing inference from the same example of a disinfectant, a sudden drop in its sale at the tertiary level will help you analyze the reasons- and when you know the reasons, there is nothing stopping you from improving your sales.

Rakesh Kumar is a business consultant of Zed Sales. Zed Sales is a leading sales management software in India. Zed Sales has lots of innovative features including Tertiary Sales Tracking software, Order Management Software etc.