Merchandising

Right Stock, Right Place — Allocation Accuracy Up 45%

National FMCG Distributor · Midlands, UK · 90 field reps, 25 office staff

The Challenge

The distributor was allocating stock to 600+ retail locations using spreadsheets and regional manager guesswork. High-performing stores were regularly under-supplied, while quieter locations had months of unsold inventory. Field reps were spending more time on stock queries than on selling.

  • Stock allocation based on regional averages, not store-level data
  • Field reps spending 40% of time resolving stock issues
  • No automated replenishment — everything done manually
  • Seasonal promotions consistently over-shipped to wrong locations

What We Built

We connected their ERP, field reporting app, and retailer POS data into one AI layer. The system now calculates optimal allocation per store per SKU, auto-generates replenishment orders, and alerts field reps only when intervention is actually needed.

  • Store-level demand modelling for every SKU
  • Automated replenishment orders triggered by sell-through data
  • Field rep priority alerts replacing manual stock checks
  • Promotional allocation engine based on historical uplift data

Results

  • 45% Allocation accuracy — Improvement in right-stock-right-place
  • 3hrs Field rep efficiency — Per rep per day freed from stock admin
  • 52% Overstock — Reduction in slow-moving inventory
  • 2.1x Promotional ROI — Better returns on in-store promotions

Our reps are finally selling instead of counting boxes. The AI tells them where to focus — and it's usually right.

Commercial Director, National FMCG Distributor

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