Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model
A real-world look at how Wal-Mart developed and uses its massive data warehouse.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Data Warehousing: Using the Wal-Mart Model
Article SellingVersus Planned Selling
One way to detect an over- or underperforming article is by comparing the actual sales to the planned sales. If actual salesare exceeding planned sales, the article is selling faster than expected and inventory may be depleted. This could be a very bigproblem if there is a promotion on that article. Conversely, if the article is selling below the plan, then the retailer may haveto deal with larger than expected markdowns. Even worse, shipments of the slow-selling article may continue! This analysis comparesactual sales to planned sales in a graphical presentation that will allow the merchandiser to quickly identify deviations from theplan.
Article Selling versus Planned Data Elements
This analysis will use all the data elements in the basic article POS analysis. Included as well, usually from the homeoffice computers, will be the planning information by article, given below. Weekly information is more than adequate to get a goodanalysis. Unfortunately, many retailers do not create merchandising plans down to the article level. it may be possible toextrapolate the planning figures down to the article level, with substantial guidance from the retailer's merchandise planninggroup. For starters, this information at the company level will be more than adequate. Article planning at the store level is afuture enhancement for many retailers.
- Weekly Article Planned Sales
Article identifier, fiscal week, planned units, planned selling price, planned cost
Let's take a look at a sample report (Table 11.4) and accompanying charts (Figures 11.1 and 11.2). Judging from the sell-through percentage chart...
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