Philip Morris Switzerland operates in a highly complex retail environment, managing 24 key accounts, 4,000 points of sale, and approximately 580 unique shelf layouts.
For over two decades, PMSS relied on another merchandising software to handle merchandising and planogram management. While the system had once met their needs, it had become stagnant, offering no ongoing development or feature upgrades.
“After 20 years using the same tool, we were looking for software that offers a “ready to use” planograming solution with automated functionalities, enhanced analytics capabilities, and layout efficiency,” Deborah Garbi, Visual Merchandising Lead, Philip Morris Switzerland
The outdated process required quarterly updates plus extra changes for every product launch, creating a heavy operational load.
Challenges Before LEAFIO
1. Severe Inefficiency in Planogram Creation
Creating a single planogram required 2+ hours of manual work. When multiplied across hundreds of layouts, this became a significant resource drain — especially during frequent product launches or regulatory changes.
2. Lack of Ongoing Support
The previous solution provided no proactive assistance or tailored solutions. Issues required lengthy resolution times, leaving PMSS with limited operational agility.
3. Complex Regulatory & Market Demands
PMSS faced changes in the regulatory frameworkrequiring shelf space maximization while serving as category captain for a big local chain.
4. Legacy Planogram Management
Planograms were mainly managed on paper, while PDFs were stored in shared folders for the field employees and frontliners to access. This approach slowed updates and compliance checks, as there was no real-time availability of planogram information in the field.
The LEAFIO Mobile App solution was introduced to resolve this issue by providing instant digital access to planograms and ensuring up-to-date information for every store visit.
Trigger for Change
The convergence of regulatory pressures, category captaincy responsibilities, and inefficient legacy tools made automation non-negotiable. PMSS needed a solution that could:
- Handle complex multi-brand planogramming
- Maximize shelf space efficiency
- Offer real-time, one-to-one support
Why LEAFIO?
PMSS selected LEAFIO for its attentive support model, continuous innovation andand systematic, user-friendly solution.
Deborah highlighted:“The first pain point I wanted to solve was having one-to-one support. Project manager Anastasia was always available, even in very urgent cases.”
Key factors in the decision:
- Consistent, real-time support through video calls and messaging during the implementation process
- A results-oriented approach demonstrated by the LEAFIO implementation team
- Flexible settings customization— e.g., duplex pusher solution for TEREA, diagonal placement for ZYN, and specialized VEEV plug-in configurations
Implementation Journey
A phased approach ensured smooth adoption. The rollout began with a Partner as the top priority, covering:
- 2,000 points of sale
- 400+ products
- Gradual integration of the mobile app for field force use
Within six months, 75% of shelf creation was completed in LEAFIO Shelf Efficiency solution. The mobile app was introduced first for one retailer and is now expanding to other chains. This approach allowed the team to manage change without disrupting existing workflows.
Results & Business Impact
1. Planogram Creation Time Reduced by 80%+
PMSS achieved dramatic improvements in speed, moving from the 2+ hour planogram creation time to a much more efficient process.
2. Improved Field Execution
Manual work was significantly reduced, and the mobile app enables field force teams to compare actual shelf layouts against planned configurations for better compliance monitoring.
3. Tailored Merchandising Solutions
Custom tools for unique display types improved product visibility and category management flexibility.
“LEAFIO introduced tailored merchandising capabilities that not only supported specialized display requirements such as duplex pushers for TEREA or diagonal placement for ZYN but also enabled the creation of both format-based and store-specific planograms.”
Jane Medwin, co-founder of LEAFIO
This approach gave PM Switzerland the ability to scale rapidly across similar display types while still maintaining the flexibility to customize layouts for individual stores when needed, ensuring an effective balance between operational efficiency and localized precision.
4. Positive Retail Partner Feedback
The enhanced support model represents a dramatic improvement over the previous vendor relationship, with much better collaboration and responsiveness.
“It was the fastest implementation of all the universe changes we had to do in Jan–Mar. It worked smoothly with no big challenges,” said the partner`s representatives.
5. Data Centralization
All planograms are now in one system with access to:
- Assortment definitions by POS and planogram type
- Historical layout change tracking
Regulatory Race Against Time
PMSS’s transformation wasn’t just a software upgrade — it was a compliance-critical race. Facing imminent regulatory deadlines, and running 4,000 POS layouts, they needed to modernize planogramming before market conditions shifted. LEAFIO enabled PMSS to meet these demands without operational disruption.
Key Takeaways
For CPG manufacturers, merchandising and planogram management often come with familiar pains: time-consuming manual work, fragmented data, slow compliance with regulatory or retailer-driven changes. LEAFIO addresses these challenges by combining automation, scalability, and tailored support.
- Efficiency Gains: Planogram creation cut from 2+ hours to a fraction of the time
- Partner Satisfaction:Partner ranked it as their smoothest rollout
- Operational Agility: Faster compliance with regulatory changes
- Strategic Visibility: Centralized data
- Scalable Rollout: Phased approach ensured stability and adoption
