Blog written by Laine Kenny
Revolutionizing the way scan-based trading (SBT) is used continues to reshape B2B buying and selling relationships in retail operations. This model reduces risk for retailers, increases transparency for suppliers, and creates cleaner data for accurate consumer demand visibility. But for SBT to work, retailers and suppliers need a new level of coordination—shared data visibility, operational alignment, and trust.
Fintech’s SBT solution strengthens these relationships by simplifying inventory data flow, standardizing processes, and helping both sides reconcile faster and more accurately. With technology reducing the friction points, retailers and suppliers can focus on strategic growth rather than operational headaches.
Below are key ways retailers and suppliers use Fintech’s SBT product to achieve dual benefit.
1) Build Strong Data & Visibility Practices (Powered by Fintech’s SBT Data Reporting)
Accurate data visibility is key. Suppliers rely on POS movement to get paid. Retailers rely on supplier-owned inventory to maintain on-shelf availability. Both parties need accurate, timely visibility into product movement.
Fintech’s SBT product portal helps centralize and standardize this data exchange, so both parties operate from a single source of truth.
Retailers Can Support By:
- Providing updated POS/scan data feeds directly through Fintech’s system
- Standardizing product codes and descriptions across all store systems to avoid mismatched data
- Ensuring store systems scan products correctly to avoid miscounts
Suppliers Can Support By:
- Providing timely delivery and invoice data to keep reconciliation accurate
- Using Fintech’s dashboards to compare expected vs. actual inventory movement
- Aligning definitions of shrink, damages, returns, and unsaleable to prevent miscommunication
Why It Matters
Most SBT disputes come from data gaps, not poor intentions. Fintech’s SBT closes those gaps and accelerates issue resolution, reducing friction and protecting margins for both sides.
2) Align on Clear Operational Guardrails (With Fintech Supporting Consistency)
Retailers and suppliers must implement clear guidelines around how their SBT relationships will be managed across retail locations. Without shared processes, issues escalate quickly.
Fintech’s SBT tools help codify and communicate these operational guardrails across stores, categories, and supplier teams.
Retailers Should Clarify:
- Backstock placement policies
- Out-of-stock standards and escalation paths
- Planogram compliance expectations
Suppliers Should Clarify:
- Field rep visit cadence and responsibilities
- Rotation, freshness, and pull procedures
- Communication workflow for store-level issues
Joint Best Practice
Fintech’s SBT helps form an operational action plan around correcting errors and resolving discrepancies quickly. This plan is shared and quickly executed by retailers and suppliers to mitigate any losses quickly.
3. Strengthen Store-Level Collaboration (Enhanced with Fintech’s Shared Data Visibility)
Most SBT issues occur at the store level: missed scans, misplaced product, and unidentified sources of shrink.
Fintech’s shared dashboards provide both suppliers and retailers with visibility into store-specific performance, enabling more effective collaboration.
Retailers Can Help By:
- Creating policies around how SBT product is received, handled, and scanned to promote consistent store-level execution
- Supporting positive relationships between store managers and supplier reps
- Recognizing stores that maintain strong execution
Suppliers Can Help By:
- Using Fintech’s SBT insights to identify stores needing support
- Helping associates understand rotation and facing best practices
- Responding quickly to shrink issues surfaced in the data
Bottom Line
SBT succeeds when store teams feel equipped. Fintech’s SBT enables both parties to monitor and support stores without guesswork.
4) Speed Up Reconciliation (One of Fintech’s Key Strengths)
Slow reconciliations can destroy trust and tie up working capital. Fintech’s SBT solution automates and accelerates reconciliation by matching delivery data, inventory counts, adjustments, and POS data.
Retailer Improvements with Fintech:
- Cleaner reporting with speed to visibility
- Clear adjustment histories
- Transparent shrink root cause detection – and faster correction
Supplier Improvements with Fintech:
- Quicker exception detection
- Early insight into data discrepancies between deliveries and POS movements
- Store-by-store accuracy with visibility into what is selling, what is not, and where shrink is occurring
Shared Outcome
Reliable, fast reconciliations reduce conflict and reduce financial exposure for both parties.
5) Use SBT Visibility to Boost Category Sales (Powered by Fintech’s Insights)
SBT offers unprecedented clarity into what shoppers purchase, and Fintech turns that data into actionable insights.
Retailers Benefit By:
- Partnering with suppliers on localized assortments
- Identifying fast and slow movers early
- Testing new SKUs with low risk
- Improving forecasting and promotional timing
Suppliers Benefit By:
- Seeing exactly where demand spikes occur
- Adjusting distribution based on real POS data
- Making smarter production and inventory decisions
- Delivering targeted recommendations that improve the retailer’s category results
The Result
Better decisions, higher sales, less waste, and faster innovation.
Final Thoughts
Scan-based trading is more than an operational model—it’s a relationship model.
Retailers and suppliers work together most successfully when transparency, shared data, consistent operations, and financial fairness are in place.
With Fintech’s technology reducing friction, standardizing communication, and accelerating reconciliation, retailers and suppliers can focus on what truly matters: improving execution, growing categories, increasing sales, and ultimately providing a better shopping experience.
