What You Need to Know
As Blue Yonder continues to roll out updates across its SaaS-based supply chain tools, this latest release focuses on transforming planning processes with advanced AI and machine learning capabilities. These innovations aim to improve end-to-end planning across retail and manufacturing industries, ensuring real-time visibility, smarter decision-making, and more automation across the supply chain. With the new Cognitive applications, such changes will begin to find their way into the SaaS Category Management tools in 2025.
For desktop-based users, this release highlights Blue Yonder’s commitment to continue providing functional enhancements, issue resolution, and performance improvements to the Category Management Desktop Suite. They hope that users will see the advanced capabilities of the SaaS offerings, compelling them to migrate from the desktop applications on their own. They have no plans to discontinue support of the desktop suite to force the customers’ hand.
One of the most significant changes coming with the release of 2024.4 is the phase-out of Data Manager (DM) and CKB Console, which will no longer be supported. If you’re still using DM, it’s time to start preparing for a transition. This change was first announced with the 2024.1 release, and now, with the end of product development officially arriving, Blue Yonder is continuing to push users toward modernized workflows through tools like Open Access. Critical end-user functionality from Data Manager has already been integrated into Open Access, and work continues to do the same for the Console.
The 2024.4 release introduces new fields in Space and Floor Planning, but they’re not generic “catch-all” fields like Description or Value. Instead, these fields are purpose-built to store specific types of data. Blue Yonder has analyzed the types of data commonly saved in the Description and Value fields and now offers dedicated fields to hold such data. Additional fields have also been added to support data aggregations within Space and Floor Planning and to support the coming Cognitive applications.
Functional enhancements have also been added to Space Planning and Floor Planning. For CPG customers working with multiple retailers, this release features the ability to have multiple PMD files and switch them dynamically without closing Space Planning. This shift allows users to customize field names for each retailer’s planograms and load them when needed, streamlining workflows for those managing diverse accounts. In Floor Planning, the WebSocket Database Connection has been added. This will allow a user to connect a local instance of Floor Planning to a SaaS-hosted instance of the CKB database.
Beyond these functional updates, sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. One minor but practical update in both Space Planning and Floor Planning is the ability to shrink the ribbon into a simplified version, freeing up more screen space for planograms and floorplans. This is a welcome change for users who value a cleaner, more focused workspace, especially when dealing with detailed planograms.
In addition, Planogram Generator continues to evolve with multiple new features that enhance merchandising options, helping users meet unique requirements without manual workarounds. Additionally, an enhancement has been added to help manage the impact of a minor revision to those implementing the changes in the store. These small but impactful updates demonstrate that the best tools continue to get better, making everyday tasks more efficient and effective.
What’s New in 2024.4
A quick overview of changes across the suite for busy readers:
- Assortment Optimization: Focused on stability with no new features but multiple bug fixes, including database compatibility and error resolution.
- Category Knowledge Base: Introduced Oracle 21c and 23ai support, schema enhancements, and advanced custom processing for Lifecycle Management.
- Floor Planning: Expanded field catalog, streamlined interface options, and WebSocket Database Connectivity.
- Space Planning: Expanded field catalog, streamlined interface options, added flexibility with multiple PMD files for diverse configurations.
- Planogram Generator: Enhancements in merchandising flexibility, preview highlights, and the ability to manage scope during revisions.
- Space Automation Professional: Updated to support Visual Studio 2022 and added flexibility with WebSocket Database Connectivity.
- Strategic Assortment: Store Specific Assortments, enhanced import for new products, and additional fields to better support substitution data.
Click on the application name to jump to the summary:
Space Planning
Space Planning continues its focus on adaptability and ease of use in the 2024.4 release. Based on user requests, this version introduces the ability to keep multiple PMD files, each configured with different field name overrides, and apply them dynamically when needed. This can now be accomplished through a Space Planning dialog that allows you to select the desired file. Field name overrides are applied immediately. There is no longer a need to close Space Planning and manually copy in the desired file.
An update to the BCG shared controls also enables new themes, such as the Office 2022 option, which includes 4 different themes. Themes can now be changed on the Display Tab of the Settings dialog where one would naturally think to find such settings rather than going through the status bar. Updates have also been made to allow the ribbon to run in a collapsed mode allowing for more room for working through planograms. Optionally, labels can now be displayed on the quick access toolbar which can help better identify a button as many icons appear similar.
Space Planning 2024.4 also benefits from an expanded field catalog. These additional fields serve a number of purposes. Some have been added in anticipation of the new Cognitive applications coming in 2025. Others were added to support pre-aggregation of platform data or based on Blue Yonder’s review of data commonly held in description and value fields. New static fields have been added to hold such data, which can free up room for many users in these flex fields. These fields have not been added to the Space Planning dialogs but are accessible through tables and property lists.
Though there is not a significant number of new features, Space Planning continues to evolve based on user feedback, the introduction of new technologies, and the recognition of the need to store additional data.
Floor Planning
Floor Planning 2024.4 features the addition of the WebSocket Database Connection. This connection allows users to run Floor Planning locally on their PC or laptop and connect to a CKB database hosted on the BY Cloud. This change means the user does not have to access Floor Planning via Citrix in order to access the floorplans in their database. This feature was added to Space Planning in the 2023.1 release and is now available for Floor Planning and Space Automation Professional.
This release of Floor Planning benefits from an expanded field catalog. These additional fields have been added for multiple purposes. Some fields may have been added in anticipation of the new Cognitive applications coming in 2025. Other fields were added to support the pre-aggregation of performance data. This is a Platform Data Cloud feature available to those with Blue Yonder Cloud Implementations. The Platform Data Cloud can pre-aggregate data on the planogram and floorplan performance levels for up to 6 time periods and store the results in the relevant objects in CKB.
Based on Blue Yonder’s review of data commonly held in description and value fields, other fields were added. New static fields have been added to hold such data, which can free up room for many users in these flex fields. These fields have not been added to the Floor Planning dialogs but are accessible through tables and property lists. No plans have been made to automatically move any such data. Users will need to determine how the new fields will be used and how to populate them.
An update to the BCG shared controls also enables new themes, such as the Office 2022 option, which includes 4 different themes. Themes can now be changed on the Display Tab of the Settings dialog where one would naturally think to find such settings rather than going through the status bar. Updates have also been made to allow the ribbon to run in a collapsed mode allowing for more room for working through planograms.
Though the enhancement list is not long, these changes represent significant architectural updates to Floor Planning with usability and future-proofing in mind.
CKB
Category Knowledge Base has received a notable upgrade that will provide more functionality and data support for Category Management. This release introduces new database schema enhancements designed to streamline the exchange of data between Space Planning, Floor Planning, and the CKB database. To support this, numerous fields have been added to the following tables:
- Ix_spc_planogram
- Ix_spc_product
- Ix_spc_performance
- Ix_flr_floorplan
- Ix_flr_fixture
- Ix_flr_performance
For CKB Oracle users, this release now supports Oracle 21c and 23ai database servers as well as Oracle 19c client installations, bringing the application in line with modern data handling standards. Lifecycle Management now supports automated custom processes that will execute as a user creates a copy or version of a floorplan or planogram. This change provides more opportunities for greater automation and efficiency across connected applications.
The Open Access application now supports Interface Configurations and Job Scheduling traditionally configured in Console. An interface can now be configured and mapped to a host system and jobs scheduled or manually executed via Open Access or a Batch Server.
Data Manager and Console have remained the same for numerous releases as critical functionality migrated to Open Access. With the 2024.4 release, version checking has been removed from both of these applications. As Blue Yonder releases new versions of the rest of the Category Management Suite, Data Manager and Console will continue to function until a breaking change occurs.
A breaking change could occur through an update to Windows, SQL, Oracle, or even the Category Management Suite itself. Though Blue Yonder has no plans to make any such changes, one may become necessary, and neither the Data Manager nor Console will be updated to address it. It is time for all to consider how to move their custom functionality in Data Manager to another tool. Cantactix can assist you with that task.
Assortment Optimization
The Assortment Optimization application in the 2024.4 release focuses on refining existing features’ stability and performance. While there are no new feature rollouts in this update, several key issues reported by users have been addressed, improving the tool’s reliability. These fixes target database integration errors and unexpected application crashes, ensuring smoother workflows for users handling large datasets or complex assortment projects. Users upgrading to this version will need new activation codes, a minor but essential step to enable access to the updated system.
Strategic Assortment
Strategic Assortment continues to evolve with the introduction of Concentric Assortments. Some users will recognize this as the assortment wedge. This addition allows Strategic Assortment to sort a list of planograms by size, calculate an assortment for each size break, and ensure the Assortment at each size break is represented in the next larger size. This will help ensure consistency of product assortments across a dynamic range of available size breaks.
New fields have also been added to Strategic Assortment, though these have a specific purpose. 6 Fields have been added to better support and more clearly define the data involved with product substitution. Previously, this data was held in a single field. Now, there are separate fields to hold the base sales data, the source of that data, the amount of the base sales that will be substituted, the amount of the base sales that will be cannibalized, the sales that will be lost, and the sales that will be added. These fields will be essential in helping users make the best use of product substitutes.
Enhancements have also been added to the data import for new products, allowing users to import performance information from an outside source like Excel for products with no data. There were limitations on this previously. Also, validation options have been added to allow users to halt the import of new data if configured fields do not have valid data to ensure new products have all the necessary data going into the assortment calculations. Limited Reviews and Minor Updates have also been added as new activity types.
Space Automation Professional
Space Automation Professional has transitioned to support Visual Studio 2022 in the latest release. Visual Studio 2017 and 2019 are no longer supported. This change reflects a shift toward more robust and efficient script-building capabilities, crucial for users automating complex tasks. Those using 2017 or 2019 should consider migrating Visual Studio to version 2022 if they intend to upgrade Space Automation Pro.
Additionally, the WebSocket Database Connection has been added to Space Automation Pro. This update will allow a user to connect a local instance of Space Automation Pro with a SaaS-hosted instance of the CKB database. This addition allows a user to develop SA Pro scripts without having to connect to it via Citrix. The activation codes have also been updated for this version in keeping with Blue Yonder’s efforts to keep the software secure.
Planogram Generator
This release brings exciting enhancements to Planogram Generator, focusing on merchandising flexibility and precision. New stacking options allow users to optimize shelf space with the ability to stack products on or behind others. Also, products can now be placed in front of obstructions which previously might have impeded the merchandising space from behind.
Side capping in the template can now be carried forward into the target planogram, whether the cap is included in the position or a secondary orientation. This update solves the issue of side caps being merchandised in the target as an equal number of front-facing positions. When using the Revision method, the area around a removed item can now be isolated to a set number of positions. This update will allow the items closest to the newly opened space to fill in, reducing the overall impact on the planogram and, ultimately, on the labor needed at the store level to carry out the change. This change was made to help address the need to manage the impact of a revision on the store.
Enhancements were also made to streamline the use of the highlight tool during the generation preview. Though highlights were already supported, they were displayed to the user in a long, unsorted list. A button now accesses a much more navigable dialog, making it much easier to select the desired highlight. The name of the currently displayed highlight will also appear on the button, helping the user keep track of what they are analyzing. Planogram Generator continues to be a cornerstone application for Blue Yonder, featuring several new enhancements as it continues to evolve. These changes are particularly valuable for teams looking to maximize efficiency in high-volume retail environments.
Our Take
The 2024.4 release marks a step forward for the Blue Yonder Category Management Suite, focusing on enhancing stability, customization, and usability. Key highlights include the improved database support for the Category Knowledge Base, expanded field catalogs in Floor and Space Planning, and more flexible merchandising options in the Planogram Generator. Strategic Assortment’s localization capabilities, concentric assortments, and enhanced data import further position this suite as a leader in precision retail management.
Cantactix recommends prioritizing upgrades for teams reliant on automation and localized planning or those needing to take advantage of the additional fields. We stand ready to assist you with training, support, and consulting, which could include facilitating the use of automation in new fields to help you move your data. Training sessions should focus on new stacking methodologies, automation processes, and configuration options for ribbons and settings. Overall, this release addresses both macro and micro-level operational challenges, providing meaningful benefits for retailers and suppliers alike.
As you navigate the updates in the 2024.4 release, don’t forget that CXU offers on-demand training tailored to help you make the most of Blue Yonder tools like Planogram Generator and Space Planning. Whether you’re new to Blue Yonder or looking to refamiliarize yourselves with the applications, Cantactix University provides video tutorials and practical guides to accelerate your team’s adoption of Space Planning and Planogram Generator. Whether you’re looking to streamline workflows or expand your technical expertise, CXU is your partner in optimizing Blue Yonder’s capabilities.