Glossary A–ZLetter M
Merchandise management integration
A merchandise management integration links the signage system with a retailer's merchandise management system, in which items, prices, stock levels and promotions are kept, so that screens can show this data without it being copied by hand.
The link works via an interface or via files handed over at regular intervals.
Typical applications are prices on menu boards and shelf screens, notes on low stock, automatically hiding sold-out items, and promotions that appear exactly when they start in the system. In chains, the merchandise management system supplies branch-specific data, so that each branch shows its own prices even though all use the same template.
Operators should clarify which system holds the master data, so that checkout, price label and screen show the same price. Differences between screen and checkout annoy customers and can have consequences under pricing law. Fixed handover times, a rule for missing or faulty records and read-only access with limited rights are important. Product descriptions and images usually come from a different system than prices and stock.