Retailers today are under pressure to move faster, do more with less, and localize assortments while maintaining national consistency. For many, legacy systems like old versions of CKB, Spaceman, and Apollo systems still form the backbone of their planogramming system, and they’re showing their age.
So what’s next?
At Cantactix, we’re guiding retailers through a practical and proven path forward: a step-by-step evolution toward Blue Yonder Cognitive capabilities. It’s a practical path that starts with your current systems and builds toward smarter, scalable solutions.
What the Journey Looks Like
There’s no one way to transform your space, floor, and assortment planning. But the most successful journeys follow a familiar path:
1. Eliminate your old technology
Before you can optimize, you need a clean foundation. Many retailers are running old and out-of-support versions of CKB, and have many dated customizations, and those customizations are often embedded inside old Data Manager forms. With Data Manager going end-of-life, the best place to start is to figure out your plan to get current with your technology. For most retailers, that includes an upgrade to the current version and building a plan to move away from Data Manager. Now is the time to make your plan, and we hope this checklist can be the start of that roadmap.
2. Strengthen Core Planogramming Workflows
Once you’re on solid ground, we can help you optimize your current Blue Yonder tools. Many retailers we see are still using processes from a decade ago that are not keeping pace with the demands of the business. Get clear on your core processes across Space Planning, Planogram Generator, and Web Publisher. Make your team more efficient without Data Manager by enhancing automation — this is where our MissionControl software is helping retailers today. The result? Constant time savings, fewer manual errors, and planogram processes that scale with your store localization needs.
3. Expand to Floor Planning and Macro Space
Next comes floor-level transformation. The store is your connection to customers; top retailers optimize that space with regular reviews of space productivity and follow through by adjusting instore execution. Since your system was introduced, tools have been introduced that automate converting AutoCAD to floorplans, integrate sales data better, add automation to the process, and analyze productivity by fixture or department. Retailers can finally connect the dots between space and performance. You can even walk through your floorplans in 3D to preview upcoming resets and renovations.
4. Migrate to the BY Cloud
If you are not already in Blue Yonder’s cloud, there is value in moving there even before you jump into the Blue Yonder Cognitive applications, as it improves dataflows between Category Management and your other BY supply chain solutions. We also help retailers move from legacy systems like Symphony into the Blue Yonder cloud—organizing and governing data for long-term success. This enables real-time insights, easier collaboration across the supply chain, and a consistent platform for future growth.
5. Evolve to Cognitive—When You’re Ready
With a strong process and reliable data in place, you will be ready to fully compare your needs with the new capabilities of the upcoming suite of Blue Yonder Cognitive applications. You will be in the best position to make the move to Cognitive this way, just as soon as it’s an improvement over your (now optimized) current solution.
Our team will be at Blue Yonder’s annual ICON conference next week, so we can fully understand these important and exciting new Cognitive applications. We will provide more information once we assess the latest developments and identify the most impactful ways to drive growth and success for our retail partners.