SAP Retail
Space Management Interface 
Scope of Functions
- Delta layout modules for minor variations in assortments
- For the SAP Retail Store: Ability to display both the current and the next future layout versions (including materials) for a shelf, and ability to display shelves graphically or in list format
- Full support for versions
Delta layout modules for minor variations in assortments
It is now much faster and easier to create "one-off" layouts where the merchandise for a given shelf vary only slightly from store to store, such as with gas station convenience stores. You can create delta layout modules which contain only that data which varies from a standard layout shelf, then apply these delta layout modules to one or more stores as necessary. Delta layout modules refer to a layout module version (that is, they have the same validity period) and can contain both new materials to be added as well as those to be removed.
For example, assume you have standard layout modules and layout module versions, and you have assigned them to Store A. For one of those versions you could create a delta layout module which removes one material that is not available in Store A's area and adds two local brands (- 1 material + 2 new materials). Then:
- If you later change the standard layout module versions and none of the materials in the delta layout module are affected, you do not need to make any further changes for Store A.
- If you make a change to a material in the delta layout module for store A, you are dealing with only a few materials so you can make this change very quickly. And if this delta layout module is assigned to both Store A and Store B, you need only make the change once and it applies to both stores.
This avoids your having to generate a new shelf whenever minor changes occur, eliminates a lot of redundant data that would otherwise take up storage space in the system, and significantly increases system performance when assigning materials to layout modules.
SAP Retail Store: Ability to display the current and next future layout versions (including materials) for a shelf, and ability to display shelves graphically or in list format
In the SAP Retail Store, you can now display two layout versions simultaneously for a store: the layout version that is currently in effect, plus the next closest future version. This enables store managers, for example, to see what changes are planned for the upcoming month (in graphical format) and/or print a stock list with the changes that need to be made so that they can change shelf labels or make other adjustments. They can also check whether they have properly implemented the current version of the planogram.
You can now display shelves graphically in the SAP Retail Store (for example, graphics imported from external planogram software). Alternatively, you can print the information in list form, with the data appearing in the order in which it should appear on the shelves. Using both graphic and list together makes stocking easier and reduces errors.
This information is for display only. The store manager cannot make changes to the layouts in the SAP Retail Store.
Full support for versions
In previous releases you were restricted to one version (0000), which reflected the current state of a shelf. Now you can plan farther ahead by creating additional versions for future use (for example, a shelf for Christmas items, another for after-Christmas sales, then another for the spring season). You can create as many future versions for a shelf as you like, provided that the validity periods for the versions do not overlap -- that is, a shelf cannot have two versions active at the same time.
For the validity range of these versions, you can generate listing conditions for the materials in all stores where the corresponding layout modules are assigned. Thus, you are able to create an assortment by referencing the layout of the stores -- if a store has a shelf which can accept material B, then material B will automatically be added to the store's assortment. In essence, you first look for sufficient shelf space for a new material, then list the material according to the assortments of the sites. This is the reverse of the usual assortment creation process, where you create listings for materials in stores without knowing whether the stores affected have adequate space to carry them.
Effects on Customizing
Some settings in Customizing for the Material Master have been moved to the Assortment Master.