The Versatility of Spreadsheets For E-commerce Data Analytics
Managing sales operations for a small to medium-sized Amazon seller can be complex and time-consuming. However, effective tracking and management of sales data are crucial for optimizing performance and driving growth.
While numerous tools are available, spreadsheets remain the best resources for SMB Amazon sellers.
Leveraging the power of Google Sheets, combined with Defog to bring the data from Amazon Seller Central to the spreadsheet, you can shorten the time and effort between raw sales data and actionable insights.
This blog post explores why spreadsheets are the best tool for tracking and managing an SMB Amazon seller store.
Customizable and Flexible
One of the primary advantages of using spreadsheets is their inherent flexibility and customization options. You can tailor the spreadsheets to meet the specific needs of any store, no matter its size, maturity level, or category, allowing sellers to track the metrics crucial for their operations. Whether it’s sales volume, revenue, customer feedback, or inventory levels, Google Sheets can be customized to capture and analyze the data that matters most.
Ease of Use
Many business owners and employees are familiar with spreadsheets and use them for various goals in their daily business operations. Google Sheets, in particular, offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy to input, share, organize, and analyze data. This ease of use reduces the learning curve and allows SMBs to quickly track their Amazon sales data without extensive training or technical expertise. Moreover, thousands of YouTube videos explain everything from creating dynamic tables (or pivot tables), charts, macros, and complex formulas, like forecasts.
Cost-Effective
For SMBs, cost is always a consideration. Google Sheets is a cost-effective solution, offering robust data management capabilities without expensive software licenses. Defog further enhances this cost-effectiveness by integrating seamlessly with Google Sheets, providing advanced data analysis tools without breaking the bank.
Why Google Sheets and Defog are a Powerful Combination
Up-to-Date Data Analysis
Defog integrates with Google Sheets to provide up-to-date auto data analysis. Current data analysis enables sellers to make timely decisions and adjust their strategies, ensuring they stay ahead of the competition.
Automated Data Collection
Manual data entry can be painful, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Defog automates the data collection, pulling information directly from Amazon Seller Central into Google Sheets. This automation ensures that data is accurate and current, allowing sellers to focus on analysis and strategy rather than data entry.
Customizable Templates
Defog offers customizable templates designed specifically for Amazon sales data. These templates make it easy for sellers to set up their Google Sheets and track critical metrics immediately. Customizable templates ensure sellers can modify everything to meet their needs, capturing and analyzing all relevant data from their unique business ways.
Data Privacy
By directly linking Amazon Seller Central and your Google Sheets spreadsheet, Defog never stores any data from your business, mitigating any potential risk concerning privacy.
Key Benefits of Using Spreadsheets for Amazon Sellers
Centralized Data Management
Google Sheets provides a centralized platform for managing all sales data. This centralization makes tracking and analyzing data from multiple sources easy, providing a comprehensive view of the business. Sellers can pull data from Amazon Seller Central and other platforms into a single Google Sheets document, simplifying data management.
Enhanced Collaboration
Google Sheets enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple team members to work on the same document simultaneously. This collaborative feature is especially beneficial as it ensures that everyone has access to the latest data a single point of truth, and can contribute to data analysis and decision-making.
Powerful Data Analysis Tools
Spreadsheets offer a range of powerful data analysis tools, including formulas, forecasts, pivot tables, charts, and, soon, artificial intelligence (AI). These tools make it easy to analyze large datasets and identify trends and patterns.
Visual Data Representation
Visualizing data can make it easier to understand and interpret. Google Sheets allows sellers to create charts and graphs that visually represent sales data. This visual representation helps sellers quickly grasp complex information and make informed decisions. Defog populates tables with Amazon Seller Central data in a straightforward way that significantly simplifies the creation of dynamic tables and charts.
Accessibility and Integration
Google Sheets is a cloud-based platform accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility ensures that sellers can view and update their sales data on the go. Additionally, Google Sheets integrates seamlessly with other Google Workspace tools and third-party applications, like BI, inventory management, and accounting tools, enhancing its functionality and versatility.
Practical Steps for Using Google Sheets and Defog
Setting Up Defog
- Visit Defog’s website and sign up or sign in if you already have an account.
- Follow the steps on the screen to connect your store and create your first Defog.
Analyzing Your Data
- Use Formulas: Apply formulas to your data to calculate key metrics and identify trends.
- Create Pivot Tables: Use pivot tables to summarize and analyze large datasets.
- Visualize Data: Create charts and graphs to represent your sales data visually, making it easier to interpret and share insights with your team.
Gaining Actionable Insights
- Identify Trends: Look for patterns and trends in your sales data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Set Goals: Use your data to set realistic sales goals and track progress towards achieving them. You also may include alerts if you wish.
- Make Data-Driven Decisions: Base your business decisions on the insights gained from your data analysis, ensuring your strategies are informed and effective.
FAQs
How can Defog help me track my Amazon sales data?
Defog integrates Amazon Seller Central APIs (Amazon SP-API and Amazon Advertising API) with Google Sheets. It automates data collection, organizes data into decluttered tables, and provides tools to help you make informed decisions.
Why should I use Google Sheets to track my sales operations?
Google Sheets is a widely used platform that allows data analysis, customization, and easy data sharing. Combined with Defog, it becomes a powerful tool for controlling your sales data and tracking and managing your operations. Over 15 million companies use Google Workspace and have access to Google Sheets to run their operations.
What key metrics should I track in my Amazon seller analytics?
Key metrics include sales volume, revenue, conversion rates, average order value, return rates, inventory levels, and advertising performance. These metrics provide insights into your business’s performance and areas for improvement.
How often does Defog update my sales data?
The frequency of automatic updates Defog provides depends on the data type: Sales and inventory are updated hourly, performance and advertising are updated twice daily, and financial data is updated daily. Regular updates ensure the accuracy and relevance of your data.
Can Defog help with inventory management?
Yes! Defog helps inventory management by providing data on inventory levels and sales patterns, which enables sellers to calculate sales velocity, predict demand, and plan restocks effectively, reducing the risk of stockouts or overstock situations.
How can I optimize my pricing strategies using Defog?
Defog provides sales data to help you identify the optimal pricing strategies for your products. It enables you to make data-driven pricing decisions to maximize profits by tracking how different price points affect sales volume and revenue.
Conclusion
For small and medium sellers selling on Amazon, spreadsheets are invaluable for tracking and managing sales operations. Google Sheets, enhanced by Defog, offers a versatile, cost-effective, robust platform for data analysis and actionable insights. By leveraging spreadsheets’ flexibility and functionality, Amazon sellers can streamline their operations, optimize their strategies, and drive growth. Embrace the power of Google Sheets and Defog to unlock the full potential of your Amazon sales data.
References
- Sorry AI, Old-School Spreadsheets Are Still King. https://www.wsj.com/articles/sorry-ai-old-school-spreadsheets-are-still-king-cbb99936
- Everything you need to know about Google Sheets short links. https://goo.by/blog/discover-the-power-of-google-sheet-short-link-and-transform-the-way-you-share-and-access-data
