Between CAD planning and an evaluation program linked to SAP, the family-run retail company had operated its own modular planning system for product carriers 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 for the end-to-end digitalization of processes between store development, regional headquarters, stores and departments. Of the seven providers approached, three took part in preparatory presentations and workshops. Following assessments by the multi-member project team, the 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 user-friendliness of the software, the detailed way it meets our requirements and the web-based option for company-wide collaboration tipped the scales in favor of the P'X Retail Solution," says Andre Hoffmann, Project Manager Store Development. "Perspectix has also confirmed the fixed deadline for project completion."

As part of the project:

• The CAD plans for all 171 stores were transferred from ArchiCAD.
• Around 1,200 merchandise displays 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 and converted to 3D without any loss of data or information.
• Interfaces to ArchiCAD, an evaluation program and the connection to SAP were implemented.
• The Store Communicator for dialog between store offices and head offices adapted to the requirements and processes.
• The P'X Retail Solution was rolled out at around 1,200 relevant workstations, at which more than 3,000 users work in Europe.

The go-live took place on time in November 2022. "Perspectix met the tight deadline, all commitments and also the budget," says Andre Hoffmann. "The quality of the software is very good and the collaboration with the provider went smoothly." Although the 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, it is no longer necessary to physically try out, photograph and document planogram changes on site. They can now be implemented virtually and communicated web-based, in detail and interactively in 3D using the Store Communicator. The feedback from the individual stores via the Store Communicator leads to learning effects in planning. "The new digital processes lead to 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 be starting further projects with Perspectix this year.