Scaling success: the Box network integrates automation platform from LEAFIO AI

The Box is a 3-year-old European convenience store chain operating in more than 100 locations. The typical area of its stores ranges from 50 to 230 square meters and the assortment includes fresh fruits and vegetables, drinks, snacks, and delicacies from European producers, in addition to consumer goods. The concept of trendy stores with their own bakeries, pizzerias, and breweries has recently proved to be a success and the Box has certainly kept in step with it. The chain has its own bakery and pizza production facilities based on its own recipes, which attract many customers, and currently manages an average of 1800 SKUs in small format stores and 3200 SKUs in large ones. 

Why did Box decide to implement assortment, inventory, and merchandising management systems?

The Box chain decided on the simultaneous implementation of three LEAFIO AI ecosystem products: Shelf Efficiency, Inventory Optimization, and Assortment Performance. The main reason was the rapid growth in the number of stores. When there were only a few locations, employees managed the assortment and inventory manually, but the increase in the number of outlets and staff turnover posed new challenges. It became necessary to unify assortment management, automate data collection and analysis, and optimize inventory in order to achieve the best results. The competitive nature of the environment was another factor since other strong players in the market segment have already integrated modern management systems.

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The goal of cooperation

After reviewing many solutions currently available on the market, the Box's management opted for the products in the LEAFIO AI ecosystem to focus on achieving the following implementation goals:

• establish centralized assortment management to implement network scaling plans;
• optimize and unify merchandising processes and put planograms in order;
• unload the logistics department by automating inventory management processes;
• improve inventory management processes, as grocery stores of this format do not have large warehouses;
• solve the problem of strategic management and assortment quotas;
• automate the analysis of the impact of the implemented solutions by moving from Excel charts to modern tools.

Benefits of implementing a three-product platform

Besides each module having its own unique functionality, the products form an integral platform when used together, each part improving the retail planning processes. The systems exchange data, and so: 

• the assortment will become a source of decision-making and communication between other products;
• when managing the assortment, the category manager will always know the amount of stock in the network and in the stores, which, given the right approach and distribution, will reduce lost sales and optimize budgets;
• the integrated work of Inventory and Shelf allows you to control the permanent availability of goods on the shelves and initiate an order if the system detects a shelf is about to be left empty.

Comprehensive automation with LEAFIO AI

LEAFIO experts and the Box specialists are currently working together as a team to help the Box network achieve its goals using the products of the LEAFIO AI ecosystem.

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The first stages of integration (express survey, ftp server deployment, testing, etc.) have already been completed, and the team is now working on product implementation. The next step will be to scale the solution to all stores and cooperation with the Customer Success department and the Help Desk service will continue to provide further assistance with problem-solving and using the system as efficiently as possible after successful implementation.

With successful initial integration stages complete and a clear roadmap for the future, the collaboration between LEAFIO experts and Box specialists promises to drive the Box network towards a future marked by innovation, efficiency, and industry leadership.