Emily Newton

Thoughtful planogram designs can elevate sales across multiple channels by increasing customers’ interest in products. There are three main types of planograms in retail and B2B cases — floor plans, shelf plans and aisle plans. People can capitalize on all of them in purposeful ways to get the desired results.

1. Use RFID-Powered Planograms

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have become popular tracking methods for entities throughout the supply chain. Some stores use RFID-tagged displays to ensure they align with planogram designs, saving time by minimizing errors. Some companies offer solutions that allow seamless real-time monitoring of shelf stock, ensuring the product displays align with the planogram.

A 2024 study of grievances among in-store shoppers in the United Kingdom found 36% said low stock levels or empty shelves had bothered them within the last year. Twenty-nine percent indicated annoyance over seeing products in stock online and not finding them in their nearest stores. Relying on RFID technology could address both these problems and others.

Representatives from B2B brands specializing in such technologies will find it easier to connect with potential clients by focusing on common pain points, and how RFID tags for planogram optimization could make businesses more productive and customer-centered.

RFID tags are common theft deterrents, too — they emit audible alerts if someone tries to take something out of a store without paying. People could integrate them into planograms for retail, particularly when displaying high-value or in-demand items in heavily trafficked parts of the store. Alternatively, the RFID tags may get added later, such as if people realize specific items are at an above-average risk of getting stolen after the fact.

2. Try Virtual Reality for Smoother Distribution Planning

When manufacturers and other relevant professionals think about what happens to items once they leave production facilities, they must carefully consider all appropriate aspects. For example, offering items through club stores such as Costco requires people to choose durable, sturdy packaging for displaying products. The items are typically on pallets moved directly from trucks to the sales floor — the only additional labor required involves removing the stretch wrapping.

Virtual reality (VR) is well-positioned to help people answer various questions. Which types of planogram designs are best for specific products and needs? Has a manufacturer met all the associated distribution requirements a brand requires? VR can remove the guesswork by showing people highly realistic simulations of real-life environments.

One example comes from the pet food brand Purina. Its products feed about 65 million dogs and 51 million cats annually, emphasizing the brand’s massive reach. Now, Purina’s partners can access a virtual reality solution to collaborate with its representatives to make shelf-design decisions in the metaverse.

Purina’s brand recognition means people can find its items in places beyond retail stores, such as pet expos, veterinary offices and similar environments. This VR application opens appealing opportunities to optimize planograms in retail and B2B environments, allowing Purina’s marketing experts to ensure all parties display offerings in consistent, effective ways.

3. Evaluate the Types of Planogram Designs in the Cloud

Today’s workforce is full of distributed teams who may never work in the same physical spaces but likely communicate regularly. As executives plan the elements of their digital transformation strategies, many focus on cloud computing.

People began using paper-based planograms in 1971, but the world has changed significantly. A business specializing in cloud-based planogram options released a 55-second video to introduce B2B clients to designing their planograms in the cloud. The 1970s-inspired content reflects the planogram’s history while reinforcing the need to upgrade methods.

One benefit of working in the cloud is people can provide feedback on the types of planogram opportunities regardless of their location or time zone. As long as someone is an authorized cloud platform user, they can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. Statistics indicate promotions can boost sales from 4% to 8%, making it wise to consider how to highlight the right products through planograms in retail or other settings.

Cloud tools can allow people to incorporate factors such as foot-traffic levels, sight levels and other factors that can make promotions maximally effective at individual stores. They can also apply complementing technologies like artificial intelligence and data analytics to determine which promotions will work best in particular locations.

Store-specific strategies can reduce overstocks and increase the chances of people being interested in what a display offers. Things like weather patterns, customers’ average income and their education levels can influence what a person may be likely to buy rather than find irrelevant.

Compelling Ways to Update Planogram Strategies

These three examples show how people have many intriguing ways to update the types of planogram technologies they use to drive results. They apply to planograms in retail, as well as to those using planograms in B2B settings. Professionals must keep customers at the center of their decisions when using these or other methods to help them understand what shoppers expect.

About the author:

Emily Newton reports on how technology disrupts industrial sectors. She’s also the editor-in-chief of Revolutionized, covering innovations in industry, construction, and more.

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