Between CAD planning and an evaluation program linked to SAP, the family-run retail company had operated its own modular planning system for merchandise displays and planograms based on Lotus Notes for 16 years, the license for which expired in October 2022. In August 2020, the search began for a solution that would enable end-to-end digitization of processes between store development, regional headquarters, stores and departments. Of seven vendors approached, three participated in preparatory presentations and workshops. After assessments by the multi-member project team, proof of concept and contract negotiations, Perspectix was awarded the contract to customize and implement the P'X Retail Solution and Store Communicator in June 2021. "The high usability of the software, the detailed way to meet our requirements and the web-based possibility for company-wide collaboration tipped the scales in favor of the P'X Retail Solution," says Andre Hofmann, Project Manager Store Development. "Perspectix has also confirmed the fixed deadline for project completion."

The project comprised:

• The CAD plans of all 171 stores were transferred from ArchiCAD.
• Around 1,200 merchandise supports built in 3D and stored in the Retail Solution, including connection logic.
• Using a script, more than 10,000 planograms were transferred in several stages without loss of data or information and converted to 3D.
• Interfaces to ArchiCAD, an evaluation program and the connection to SAP realized.
• The Store Communicator for dialog between store offices and head offices adapted to requirements and processes.
• The P'X Retail Solution was rolled out to around 1,200 relevant workstations, where more than 3,000 users work in Europe.

The go-live was executed on time in November 2022. "Perspectix met all confirmations as well as the budget", says Andre Hofmann. "The quality of the collaboration, which is completely digital except for one face-to-face appointment, as well as the introduced software are very good." Although employees are still in the learning phase, the new environment has been very well received and is showing initial improvements in work efficiency and collaboration. For example, planogram changes no longer must be physically tried out on site, photographed and documented, but can be implemented virtually and communicated web-based, in detail and interactively in 3D using Store Communicator. Feedback from individual stores via the Store Communicator leads to learning effects in planning. "The new digital processes lead to higher planning quality, cost savings and time advantages in the realization of concepts, which ultimately benefits our customers," says Andre Hoffmann. "We are far from having exhausted all the possibilities of the Retail Solution and will start more projects with Perspectix this year.