Retail - last 50 metres is the most difficult

[Supply Chain Novice]

Having spent all the money on the systems and processes to get the product to the back of our stores how come our most difficult problem is getting it over that last 50m in a timely manner for the customer? Has anyone else got this problem? What have you done about bridging the gap?

[POS]

What type of business are you in? I think that the storage, replenishment and inventory management has always been a huge problem at store level for retailers!

[Supply Chain Novice]

I am in the grocery supermarket area and not sure where we are going wrong from the back of store to the shelf?

[POS]

There are many issues with Grocery retail replenishment that lead to poor stock availability on the shelf, and most of these stem from problems in the last 50 metres!

These tend to revolve around the following:

1. Poor inventory recording at shelf levels
2. Lack of POS data use in planning replenishment
3. Poor timing of delivery vehicles
4. Stock sitting at the back dock too long
5. Shelf filling taking place at the wrong time of day

Just a few thoughts

[Jose]

with lots of people talking about RFID, would that help you at all in getting the product onto shelf or does it just get it to your stores back dock? I think looking at shelf ready product and your staffing levels at time of delivery may help.

[POS]

Originally Posted by Jose

with lots of people talking about RFID, would that help you at all in getting the product onto shelf or does it just get it to your stores back dock? I think looking at shelf ready product and your staffing levels at time of delivery may help.

RFID will certainly help, with the capture of timely information, but it is the fundamental processes and systems that support replenishment and forecasting that will have the most impact IMHO :-)

[Supply Chain Novice]

I just can't see RFID becoming a viable technology throughout my supply chain for 5 yrs min, could consider it for the high value products to at least get them to store but I can't see it will help me get that product from the back store room onto the shelf when I need it as the consumer is coming into my stores ? or am I missing something ?

[Playground_Kid]

Originally Posted by POS

There are many issues with Grocery retail replenishment that lead to poor stock availability on the shelf, and most of these stem from problems in the last 50 metres!

These tend to revolve around the following:

1. Poor inventory recording at shelf levels
2. Lack of POS data use in planning replenishment
3. Poor timing of delivery vehicles
4. Stock sitting at the back dock too long
5. Shelf filling taking place at the wrong time of day

Just a few thoughts

I tend to agree. Having been in the retail industry for some time now, I have noticed that "poor inventory recording at shelf levels' tend to be the main culprit. Is there a optimal solution? I haven't come across any at this time. My tactic was to go rooting through the back occassionally as part of my walk and notice what's there and have the crew put them out.

Any thoughts?