The systems behind a seasonal business.
Tyler Heshka · https://heshka.com/work/casebook/operations-and-business-systems
- Case Study
- Retail · Wholesale · Production
- 2 min read
Buying the stock and building the systems that keep track of it are parts of the same job.
My part
Operations & Business Systems Manager · March 2017–Present
- Purchase
Vendors, purchasing and the incoming stock.
- Inventory
Records used across retail, wholesale and production.
- Sell
POS and e-commerce connect stock with customers.
- Reconcile
Financial records and reporting support the next decision.
01
My job doesn’t divide neatly into “operations” and “systems.”
If we buy something, somebody needs to choose it, order it, receive it, keep the inventory straight, sell it and eventually reconcile the records. I work across that chain, and I also work on the software and reporting carrying the information between those steps.
That responsibility spans retail, wholesale and production in a highly seasonal business. I work with vendors and with the people buying, growing, selling and keeping track of the stock. Questions about what was ordered, what arrived and what we can sell are part of my operating work.
03
The people using it are part of the work.
The same overlap extends to staff systems: scheduling, applicant tracking, employee access and time-tracking integration. Their configuration and the procedures people follow need attention together.
I coordinate planning, procedures and training with the divisions and leadership. Once a system is set up, I’m still involved in the purchasing, stock and staff work it supports.
Scope
An account of ongoing operating and systems responsibility.