Nielsen has announced the launch of its new Assortment and Space Optimisation (ASO) software tool which it describes a first-of-its-kind, integrated end-to-end solution for assortment and space planning and execution.

The ASO cloud-based application incorporates real-time data with space-aware analytics and informs planograms that ensure each product within a category is allocated the optimal space needed to maximise its performance within physical and supply chain constraints.

“Nielsen’s Assortment and Space Optimisation (ASO) recognizes the inextricable link between assortment and physical space, and brings speed, accuracy and simplicity to an otherwise complex and disconnected set of processes,” said Stuart Taylor, SVP, Global Product Leadership, ASO. “It provides all the functionality that Nielsen clients have relied on for assortment and space planning into an integrated space-aware assortment solution.”

The Nielsen ASO solution is said to addresses the full breadth of manufacturer needs in concert with their retail partners – from manufacturer strategic planning through store-level execution – in one easy-to-navigate platform. Only by integrating these processes onto a single platform is Nielsen ASO able to create assortments that are truly execution-ready, to simplify and streamline workflow, and to provide anytime, anywhere access to performance analytics that together increase efficiency while driving growth.

Newly-introduced functionality allows manufacturers to:

• Create assortments with the confidence that both retail supply and demand are optimised simultaneously
• Collaborate in an integrated platform with streamlined processes to save time and hassle
• Access ‘always on’ performance analytics to inform adjustments with real-time impacts on business today
• Know the efficiency and effectiveness of assortment plans before execution
• Develop analytics-informed category review stories to justify products on the shelf and negotiate wins with retail partners

The ASO engine is fueled by Nielsen’s comprehensive data services through a SaaS architecture. This robust system utilises both retailer and market data while harnessing a combination of capabilities including assortment planning, merchandising strategy, planogram management, automation and workflow services.

“We have listened to our clients’ struggles around maximising the balance between demand and supply in the joint business planning process,” said Jens Ohlig, SVP, Sales Effectiveness Western Europe. “Our end-to-end solution links demand-based assortment analytics with space-aware merchandising inventory models for executable, collaborative plans that yield real incremental growth among our partners.”

The UK launch is part of a global roll-out incorporating 8 other markets: the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia.