Data-driven decisions help you optimize campus store inventory, improve customer engagement, and boost profitability. That’s where MBS’ data tools come in. From textbook management to targeted marketing, these tools provide the reports and analytics you need to stay ahead.
Below, we’ll explore the key MBS tools and seven essential reports that every campus store should use.
The MBS Data Tools for Campus Stores
Dashboard
Dashboard delivers business intelligence on demand for MBS system partners. It provides quick access to high-level performance metrics with drill-down capabilities for detailed analysis—no data expertise required.
With Dashboard, you can:
- Understand data easily. Identify trends, patterns, and statistics.
- Compare activity across departments.
- Access high-level overviews or drill down for details.
- Interact with store data for real-time updates.
- Unlock unlimited analytic potential.
Arc Report Builder
Arc Report Builder uses pre-designed data models for customizable reporting, helping MBS system partners extract the data you need quickly. You can even visualize data with charts and graphs.
Available data models include:
- Merchandise Inventory
- Merchandise Sales
- Stock Ledger
- Textbook Adoption Information
- Textbook Rental
CRM
With an integrated customer master file, MBS system partners can connect with students from day one. Use CRM to:
- Introduce incoming students to your store as their one-stop shop for course materials and merchandise.
- Identify customers for targeted marketing campaigns using transaction details, promo code usage, loyalty info, and more.
- Create specific lists for promotions—like diploma frames for graduating seniors or event t-shirts for homecoming.
Benefits of CRM:
- Simplifies customer interactions.
- Proactively manages relationships.
- Adds efficiency.
- Improves competitiveness through targeted marketing.
MBS CRM is a complete solution for elevating customer service.
7 Essential Reports for Campus Stores
1. Sales Ranking Report
Discover what percentage of sales comes from used books or identify your top 10 merchandise items. Customize by division, department, class, or item level, and rank by sales dollars or units.
2. Cost-Complement
Cost-complement is the cost-to-retail ratio, calculated by dividing total inventory at cost by total inventory at retail. It’s calculated “on the fly” for open months and stored for closed months. Run the Cost-Complement Audit Report for a single month.
3. Adoption Completion Rate
Track outstanding adoptions with a simple chart. Click for details by department, enrollment, and completion rate. Export reports to share with department chairs or administrators.
4. Textbook Market Share Rate
View your store’s estimated sales-to-enrollment ratio. Drill down for publisher performance and export tables.
5. Year-over-Year Average Textbook Price
Compare textbook pricing trends over multiple years with an easy-to-read line graph. Quickly evaluate student costs and report changes.
6. Textbook Returns by Vendor
See how many books were ordered from each vendor, how many were returned, and the return percentage.
7. Textbook Sales by Term
Compare sales and units sold year-over-year. Use bar charts to view retail changes and drill down for detailed comparisons.
Tips for Leveraging Campus Store Data
Data is only powerful when you know how to use it. Here are five practical tips to help you make the most of your campus store analytics:
1. Set Goals and Analyze Progress with KPI Metrics
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide a clear picture of how your store is performing. Covering Daily Sales, Month-to-Date, Fiscal Year-to-Date, and Textbooks, KPI metrics allow you to compare your current month against previous months or years.
With the KPI Dashboard, you can:
- Pinpoint areas where your store excels.
- Identify opportunities for improvement.
- Filter information to fit your store’s unique needs.
This flexibility makes it easy to set measurable goals and track progress toward achieving them.
2. Get the Most Out of Your Data
Dashboard offers clickable charts, tables, and detailed information to help you dig deeper into your store’s performance. Use it to:
- Analyze sales productivity by the hour.
- View non-merchandise totals and tender totals.
- Track sell-through by vendor, division, size, color, and more.
- Examine revenue at a granular level.
Set aside time to explore the full scope of business intelligence available.
3. Customize Your Information
Your store isn’t one-size-fits-all, and your reports shouldn’t be either. With MBS tools, you can:
- Remove or replace reports on existing tabs (Daily Sales, Month-to-Date, Fiscal Year-to-Date, Textbook KPI).
- Create new KPI tabs with the specific report tiles you need.
This customization ensures the most essential data is always front and center.
4. Share Insights in a Visual, Easy-to-Digest Format
Need to keep administrators informed or justify a new initiative? MBS tools make it simple to share reports, charts, and visual data that are easy to understand. These insights help support your store’s goals and strengthen proposals for changes or improvements.
5. Utilize Custom Reports
If you need a report that isn’t currently available, we can work with you to design and create a custom report tailored to your needs.
Leveraging data effectively transforms your campus store from reactive to proactive. By setting goals, customizing reports, and sharing insights, you’ll make informed decisions that drive growth and improve customer satisfaction. Data is the backbone of a successful campus store. Start using these tools today to unlock the full potential of your store.
