Unlocking the power of optimised retail space planning with StoreSpace®

Boosting operational efficiency, adapting swiftly to changes and optimising space utilisation is crucial for achieving profitable stores and gaining a competitive edge.

The key to this lies in retail space planning software! However, not all retail space planning software is crafted alike.

In this article, we are taking a look at common issues faced by store planning teams and the capabilities of StoreSpace® – our intuitive retail space planning software – to transform retailers’ space planning process.

Access to up-to-date information

Without easy access to current and accurate planograms, in-store teams struggle to accurately implement changes.

Store staff are rarely tethered to a single desktop, so may face challenges when executing and verifying changes in stores, resulting in potential range, assortment and product location inaccuracies affecting in store compliance.

StoreSpace® enables store teams to view a centrally-controlled planogram on a mobile website – which has been automatically maintained by Head Office. This means planograms are always up-to-date when store teams require them, helping with practical delivery and easy verification of planogram changes.

Online and mobile access

Printed paper planograms and store plans can be inconvenient and inefficient resources when trying to carry out any in-store changes. Plus, the paper waste is unnecessary and has environmental impacts.

StoreSpaceOnline can be accessed via a mobile device so store teams can view floor plans and planograms on the move.

Also, StoreSpace® facilitates the management of files including Word, jpeg, pdf, Excel and more, so information can be stored, shared and accessed online globally.

As well as helping in-store staff make changes more efficiently, this also helps senior leadership and regional managers verify that processes are working and in-store compliance is being achieved when they ‘walk the store’.

Helpful two-way messaging function

Managing planograms and layout plans at Head Office can be complex and may lead to delays or errors in updates and maintenance – as well as making it hard for store staff to request a change.

StoreSpace® features a helpful messaging function which enables Head Office to issue planogram or category location updates and space change requests – and allows store teams to confirm implementation.

In addition to improving communication and operational efficiency, this helps space planning teams capture the process of change and report on the results.

Available in multiple languages

Many stores employ staff who speak a diverse range of languages, which can make in-store changes more difficult for non-English speaking store staff.

The StoreSpaceOnline platform is available in over 20 languages as well as English. This can help to make the floor plan and planogram implementation process easier for all staff members – and more efficient overall for the business.

Streamlining space planning to save time

Repetitive space planning tasks can be very time-consuming when done manually.

StoreSpace® – which is designed for retail space planners by experienced retail space planners – helps to optimise the planning process by making it much more streamlined and time-efficient.

The intuitive AutoCAD-based software features tools and functionalities which enable space planners to fulfil tasks – which will manually take hours – in seconds, including:

• Automatically ordering bays chronologically by drawing a line on the plan
• Assigning merchandise at category level
• A wizard for quickly creating a new fixture and adding new equipment to the system
• Gondola builder for easily creating multiple fixtures in an aisle
• Planogram shuffle tool for easily replacing and reordering existing aisles to optimise merchandising
• Flow-driven merchandising to speed up the placing of planograms on bays
• Project-led approach which enables scheduling of new plans to simplify the management of future changes

Reducing the risk of human error

Manually making changes can subject plans to human error, causing issues with successful implementation and in-store compliance.

StoreSpace® helps to make the planning process more accurate – and therefore less susceptible to human error.

Fitting circles ensure correct aisle widths to adhere to legal requirements and create a better customer experience, while model-led planning ensures a consistent approach throughout an entire estate.

Providing heat mapping tools

Without access to performance data, store planners can find it difficult to fully understand the success of their plans and act on the results to make changes.

StoreSpace® allows retailers to overlay sales, movement and profit heat maps onto floor plans. This enables them to produce reports on the performance of current space allocation, understand what’s working and what isn’t, and then identify opportunities for improvement.

Delivering reports and insights for the whole business

Obtaining key metrics for comparing stores can be a time-consuming task, especially for retailers with a large estate.

StoreSpaceOnline has a time-saving reporting function which enables planners to quickly and simply export critical reports from the database, helping planners deliver on targets and provide information to other areas of the business.

It provides a running total of likely sales per square metre and linear metre to predict the impact of changing planograms on sales and profit totals.

Also, StoreSpace® enables planners to attach database attributes and colouring to fixtures, which can then be reported on. For example, attributes can be used for high level equipment call offs, the availability of power for fixtures or lights, the specification of area like High Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) or assigning a physical fixture a colour for merchandising purposes.

This reporting can then be used by management and other stakeholders to provide insight and inform other areas of the business.

Make retail space planning easier with StoreSpace®

By seamlessly connecting store teams and headquarters, assisting with operational efficiency, streamlining planning and enhancing insightful decision-making, our StoreSpace® software exceeds the capability of manual methods to offer a forward-looking approach to retail space management.

We work with businesses across the world, including top UK retailers like Asda, Sainsbury’s, Primark and M&S, to help them get the most from retail space.

Whether it’s our StoreSpace® software or access to our retail space planning expertise, we have the knowledge and experience you’re looking for.