Council rolls out web and app system to help Perth businesses

Perth and Kinross Council is rolling out a digital tool it hopes will help local businesses.

Entitled Retail Planet, the local authority piloted the web and appbased system that tracks business turnover across Perth city centre.

Feedback from 20 businesses was deemed so positive the local authority has decided to extend the scheme for a further year.

The data on the system can be used to look at the effect various events – such as roadworks, farmers’ markets and concerts – have on retail and hospitality turnover, supplementing the existing data captured on footfall and via economic impact surveys.

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said the benefits of the system include analysis of turnover and number of sales, regular reports showing business owners how their business compares to firms elsewhere in the city and the UK, on a retail category and day-by-day level.

“It also allows business owners to see how their company is benefitting from council marketing and how this compares to other businesses on a retail category and street level,” he said.

“Added to this, the system will provide facts to councillors and council officials to help them influence key decision-makers around town development projects such as roadworks, events and parking schemes.”

Barbara Renton, director of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment service, added: “Retail Planet uses data from individual businesses to provide all users with useful and relevant reports for their business.

“Once a week, each user of the system logs in using a computer or a smart phone and submits their data in a process that takes less than two minutes.

“A reminder gets sent around to those businesses who have not submitted their data by the specified time.

“The council are already working with a group of local businesses and we hope more retailers will get involved to further strengthen the quality of the reporting.”

For more information email support@mendoretail.co.uk.