Technology has advanced and expanded the critical role planograms play, but many retail leaders still rely on outdated planogram software that isnt benefiting their brand or store performance as much as they could. But while the planogram has evolved and become more effective, tailored, and targeted over the years, have brick & mortar retailers evolved too?

Effective planogramming and allocations can significantly increase sales and strengthen store performance.

At their core, planograms allow brick & mortar retailers to effectively communicate with stores, maximize the effective use of space, and ensure the right amount of product is on the right shelf. As a critical tool if not the most critical tool for retailers, brick & mortar retailers have relied on planograms to view and plan their stores for decades. The optimization of stores starts with the optimization of space, and planograms have long been incorporated into successful retail planning. With customers back in stores and looking for an engaging and elevated experience, brick & mortar retailers need to prioritize optimizing the customer experience as well as their retail operations, which can benefit both the in-store experience and store performance. In December 2020, e-commerce sales had already dipped back to 21.3%, and the e-commerce share of sales is now only 2.0 percentage points above its trend since 2014. After e-commerce hit a pandemic high of 25.5% of all retail sales (excluding restaurants, motor vehicles and gasoline sales) in April 2020, they have begun going back to pre-pandemic levels. Recent studies have shown that despite the pandemic, brick and mortar retail continues to be preferred over e-commerce by a significant margin. Planogram software has evolved into a powerful retail planning tool, but have retailers evolved too?

Planograms for retail stores