Audit App Comparison | SafetyCulture’s iAuditor Vs Ocasta Review
Are you still stuck in the Stone Age of handwritten audit reports and you’re considering going digital? If so, you’re probably in the market for a digital audit app that’s used by large brands and is proven to deliver the results you need.
In this article, we’re going to compare two of the leading audit apps on the market; Ocasta Review and SafetyCulture (iAuditor).
But before we get into the comparison, let’s give a quick recap on why it’s so essential that you leave your manual reports in the past and go digital.
Manual pen and paper audits are slow, outdated, and about as useful as a Nokia in a world of smartphones. Let us give you the scoop on why it's time to ditch those archaic reports:
They’re very time-consuming
Manual audit reports can be extremely lengthy, especially in bigger retail setups.
Auditors must capture all information by hand, then manually upload all that data to a company portal, share it with all the relevant parties, juggling multiple email attachments, distribution lists, and who knows what else.
All those hours spent collecting, documenting, uploading, and sharing could be better spent on exciting tasks that actually move your business forward.
There’s a lot of potential for human error
When auditors rely on pen and paper or spreadsheets, there is a higher risk of mistakes, such as incorrect data entry, missing information, or misinterpretation of findings.
These errors can compromise the accuracy and reliability of the audit reports, leading to incorrect conclusions or recommendations.
Yikes! With these errors, your audit reports become a funhouse mirror, distorting the truth and leading you down the wrong path. When it comes to improving your performance and fueling business growth, you can't afford to risk mistakes like these.
Inconsistency
Without a consistent approach, comparing and analysing audit findings across different locations or time periods becomes daunting. It's like trying to piece together a puzzle when the shapes and sizes of the pieces don't match.
With each audit report following its own unique format, important data might go missing or be presented in different ways, leading to confusion and hindering meaningful analysis. This lack of standardisation undermines our ability to identify trends, draw accurate conclusions, and make well-informed decisions.
Lack of real-time visibility
It can take a long time to compile and consolidate information from multiple sources, making it difficult to have real-time visibility into the status of compliance, operational issues, or potential risks. This delay can impede timely decision-making and corrective actions, which means your business starts acting reactively rather than proactively, which is always a recipe for complete disaster.
Limited analytics and insights
With manual reports, it can be laborious to aggregate data, identify patterns, or generate meaningful reports for management or stakeholders. This means that it never gets done properly which is disastrous because this is one of the most important components of a store audit.
Access to actionable insights and comprehensive analytics is crucial for driving operational improvements and strategic decision-making.
Storage and retrieval challenges
Physical audit reports require storage space and manual filing systems; not only is this very old-fashioned, but it’s just not very practical.
Storing large volumes of paper-based reports can be cumbersome and prone to damage or loss. It also means that retrieving specific reports when needed can be time-consuming and may require manual searching through filing cabinets, further adding to administrative burdens. Who has got time to do all of that? Not your area managers, that’s for sure.
So with all that in mind, you can see why it’s crucial that you use a digital audit app.
Read on to compare two of the best retail audit apps on the market so you can decide which one is best for your retail business.
A quick summary of iAuditor by Safety Culture vs Ocasta Review
SafetyCulture (iAuditor) is an inspection, issue capture and corrective action platform for any kind of team that wants to collect consistent data, identify areas of improvement and share reports amongst their business.
Ocasta Review is an audit and observation app specifically for retail teams designed to ensure they deliver a consistent customer experience, a compliant environment and a streamlined sales journey that drives performance.
The primary focus of iAuditor by Safety Culture vs Ocasta Review
First of all, Safety Culture (iAuditor) focuses on business compliance which is extremely important, but, lacks the ‘bigger picture’ analysis needed to look at your retail stores holistically.
Looking beyond standard compliance checks allows you to spot other areas and opportunities to improve store performance
Whereas Ocasta Review (the perfect iAuditor alternative) not only focuses on compliance but also incorporates the behaviours of staff and all of the other moments that matter to drive an exceptional customer experience and successful store environment.
Everything’s not black and white in retail
Ocasta Review, is a great alternative to SafetyCulture iAuditor because rather than just having yes or no answers, you can use ‘Vibe Sliders’ to measure things like the store's ambience.
Sometimes you walk into one of your stores and get a feel for the energy, the cleanliness, and the morale of your staff.
Ocasta Review’s vibe sliders let you capture the vibe of your stores with a scored sliding scale. No need for 100 checks if the skirting boards are dusty or there’s a scuff on the floor.
Let’s look at an example:
With a normal compliance app such as Safety Culture (iAuditor) your manager would visit your retail store with a report framed around store safety.
They would check off their digital report asking questions such as:
Is the store clean?
Is the queue being managed?
Are there any trip hazards on the stairs?
Are all emergency exits clearly marked and unobstructed?
Are all staff wearing uniform?
Are fire extinguishers present, easily accessible, and in proper working condition?
Are the store's electrical systems regularly inspected for safety and compliance?
Are floor surfaces clean, dry, and free from hazards such as loose wires, spills, or debris?
Are aisles and walkways clear of obstructions, ensuring easy access for customers and employees?
Is there proper lighting throughout the store, including aisles, restrooms, and emergency exits?
Whilst this is great for compliance, it’s unhelpful in improving employee behaviour or the overall environment because some things are a little harder to explain in Yes and Nos.
With Ocasta Review, it makes a great alternative to SafetyCulture iAuditor because you can capture and score all those moments. The things that are harder to explain but are so important in the success and performance of your stores.
A birds eye view of your retail estate
Both retail audit apps give you a complete view of your stores so you can proactively see problems and minimise risks.
However, where these platforms differ is Ocasta Review’s ability to give you a real-time snapshot of your store’s overall performance, not just compliance.
In seconds you’ll be able to see how well a store is performing with traffic light colour codes that make it incredibly easy to spot underperforming stores and opportunities to improve.
For example, they may be green in all of the areas concerned with safety, but they may be in the red for employee behaviours such as helpfulness, politeness and general positivity.
Why is it important to look beyond just compliance when it comes to retail store audits?
Compliance audits are like the necessary ingredients in a recipe. They ensure you follow the rules, meet legal requirements, and keep everything in order. It's like having a solid foundation for your store, just like a sturdy cone for your ice cream.
But here's the scoop: If you stop at compliance alone, you're missing out on the tasty toppings that take your ice cream to the next level! Similarly, by going beyond compliance in your audits, you can sprinkle some needed magic that enhances your retail stores.
When you focus on compliance only, you might overlook opportunities to improve employee performance and make your customers' experience extra special. By exploring beyond compliance, you can uncover ways to improve customer service and transform employee performance. That means happy customers, repeat business, and more sales for you.
You can improve your competitive advantage
You can use your audits to identify what your competitors are doing and how your stores are shaping up in comparison. This is essential to ensure your store stays ahead of the competition.
Sales performance improvements
Compliance audits miss opportunities to supercharge your sales. But when you look beyond compliance, you can discover what products are flying off the shelves, fine-tune your promotions, and find ways to make your sales team even more attentive to your customer’s needs.
Operational efficiencies
And lastly, don't forget the operational efficiency. Compliance audits might miss the small inefficiencies that eat away at your profits. But by going beyond compliance, you can identify where you're wasting resources, streamline your inventory management, and make your store run like a well-oiled machine. That means smoother operations, cost savings, and more money in your pocket.
Compliance vs coaching
SafetyCulture (iAuditor) is known globally as a compliance platform because managing compliance is its job.
It has a task reminder feature that allows users to set tasks for specific employees to ensure compliance tasks are completed. However, it is not designed to be nor intended to be a coaching software.
The large difference between these two popular audit apps is that Ocasta Review is also used as a coaching tool and a compliance app.
As mentioned previously, with Ocasta Review, not only can you carry out all of the compliance checks that you can on Safety Culture (iAuditor).But you can also carry out employee observations in the moment, which are mapped and scored against your ideal customer journey.
Each observation generates an automatic action plan upon completion which highlights the steps the employee needs to take to improve their performance.
Not only do you have a safe and compliant retail store, but you also have fully supported employees who are clear on how they can improve their performance to exceed customer expectations. This makes it a great alternative to iAuditor.
The price difference between SafetyCulture (iAuditor) and Ocasta Review
For most large retailers, Ocasta Review is more affordable than SafetyCulture (iAuditor), as it’s priced with the needs of retailers in mind.
Plus, Ocasta Review includes unlimited light users, e.g. employees who are being observed or had tasks set for them - letting you get your entire retail team onboard on improving your overall store performance.
If you have more than 100 users - get in touch, as we can price match if we can’t beat the price!
Which one to choose?
Whilst both platforms work incredibly well to manage retail stores, keeping them safe, compliant and efficient.
Ocasta Review is the platform of choice if you want to keep your retail store compliant, drive performance across your retail stores, and make every moment matter. It’s the only alternative to iAuditor you should consider if you’re serious about compliance and driving sales in your retail business.
Are you a retailer that’s not making the most of their store visits?
Join the likes of Victoria’s Secret, Next, Virgin Media O2 and Tesco Mobile, who all use Ocasta Review’s retail audit app to ensure store compliance whilst improving customer service and increasing sales.
Book your free demo today and one of our friendly experts will walk through how it works and how it can support you and your team in retail.
