Co-op Taps RELEX Space for Category Management

RELEX Space for Category Management also integrates with the RELEX forecasting and replenishment solutions.

RELEX Solutions is laying claim to a new approach to category reviews with RELEX Space for Category Management. Built within a cloud native interface, this enables retailers to optimise merchandising plans to deliver the right products at the right time and place.

Automating and optimising planogram updates using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), this reduces time-consuming manual processes and enables retailers to reflect current sales trends, customer preferences, and seasonal variations.

RELEX Space for Category Management also fosters cross-functional collaboration, allowing supply chain and merchandising teams to plan and develop the category management strategy, and make decisions seamlessly.

“Retailers often struggle with the sheer volume of sales, inventory, and customer behaviour data required for effective category management and space planning. Couple that with needing to determine optimal shelf space allocation for each category to maximise sales and profitability, and you have a complex challenge to solve,” said Tommi Ylinen, Chief Product Officer at RELEX Solutions.

“Our new capabilities address these challenges through a unified approach, which helps to improve inventory and on-shelf availability through data driven decision-making, while boosting sales and meeting consumer demand.”

RELEX Space for Category Management also integrates with the RELEX forecasting and replenishment solutions. By integrating the forecasting, replenishment, assortment, and space management functions, data can be shared and updated in near real-time, ensuring inventory levels are optimised and shelf space allocation aligns with demand forecasts.

“We are very happy with the new capabilities being announced today, aimed at optimising retail space and product assortments more effectively,” said Andy Rigby, Chief Operating Officer, East of England Co-op.

“New innovations like the safe ‘sandbox’ environment for testing new planograms and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous category or location reviews give us greater flexibility and control. These features enable us to develop more precise and tailored category management strategies, supporting our goal of improving sales and customer satisfaction.”