Visual Merchandisers Need New Planogramming Software
This past two years we’ve seen traditional planogramming systems come under heavy scrutiny. These older systems were originally marketed, in the main, by data companies. This background, coupled with pressure from particularly influential clients, led to applications which were primarily optimised for analytics and overburdened with extensive but little used functionality. The net effect was software which was hard to learn and difficult to use. Today, clients have new requirements, which these older systems have difficulty in fulfilling.
In our detailed surveys of both manufacturers and retailers, it emerged that they want a new generation of merchandising tools. In general, both want easier to use systems that can be used by a wider range of staff, with minimal training. There is greater interest in high quality visual presentation of a broader range of merchandising styles, for a broader group of products. The ability to more realistically illustrate a display complete with point of sale signage, shelf edge labels, header boards etc is now far more important than a few years ago.
Manufacturers and retailers want a merchandising system that will not only co-exist and interoperate with their traditional legacy systems but at the same time open up new possibilities in merchandise planning and in the operational deployment of merchandising initiatives.
Virtual Shelf - Meeting Today’s Visual Merchandising Needs?
Recognizing this, Fifth Dimension has put a great deal of research and development effort into meeting today’s requirements with a new generation of visual merchandising application called Virtual Shelf. This work has culminated in the latest release (version 4.5) which contains many innovations designed to meet these needs and deliver, among other advantages;
- faster creation of new and revised planograms
- enhanced photo-realistic rendering of merchandise displays
- revolutionary drag ‘n drop charting and reporting for easy analysis
- advanced planogram and sku level performance analysis
- ‘realogram’ creation facilities for rapid in-store capture of displays
- advanced planogram visual comparison capabilities
- automatic fixture, range and display compliance analysis
- automatic calculation of in-store labour costing for new planograms
- rapid publishing of planograms in in-store briefing pack layouts
- improved speed, for greater productivity
This new version has been enthusiastically received by both retailers and manufacturers and, in collaborating with them so closely, we have together developed several excellent ideas to work on for the next release. This is our preferred way to work with committed clients. It helps us stay on track to deliver what they need today and what they will need in the near future.
The image above shows Virtual Shelf’s photorealistic display capabilities rendering a Carlsberg Beer Planogram. Click on the image to see a larger rendering.
Virtual Shelf is just one application in Fifth Dimension’s extensive portfolio of Store, Aisle and Shelf Display planning and performance optimisation software. For more information, contact Fifth Dimension at +44 (0)1908 327650 or visit our new web site.
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