Background and Challenges
Assortment management was handled through accounting systems and ERP, while SKU-related decisions were primarily based on sales and turnover metrics—an approach that does not scale effectively.
As the number of stores grew, managing individual assortment matrices for different locations became increasingly complex without a significant increase in manual effort.
SKU rotation was performed manually and lacked a systematic approach, resulting in slow assortment changes and higher operational workload for the team.
Store clustering was rigid and slow to adapt, limiting the ability to quickly account for differences in demand and store-specific characteristics.
The absence of centralized assortment management made network expansion increasingly difficult, as each stage of growth directly increased operational complexity.
As a result, the core challenge shifted from isolated operational issues to a loss of controllability, scalability, and predictability in assortment decision-making across a large retail network.
Project Objectives
Why ABM Retail Platform
MasterZoo selected ABM Retail Platform as a single platform for managing assortment and inventory following a competitive tender
One of the key advantages was a unified technical specification that enabled assortment management and replenishment to be built as a single, continuous process—without system fragmentation or manual synchronization.
This approach clearly separates areas of responsibility while maintaining a unified management logic across the entire network. Assortment decisions are executed without manual intervention and remain fully controllable even as the business scales.
Within this framework:
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ABM Assortment is responsible for building assortment matrices, managing store clusters, and controlling SKU rotation.
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ABM Inventory ensures execution of these decisions by automatically generating orders based on assortment matrices and replenishment parameters.
Implementation Approach
The implementation of ABM Retail Platform for MasterZoo was not merely the launch of a new IT solution, but a phased transformation of the assortment management operating model. The project was designed to change how assortment decisions are made without disrupting ongoing operations, while maintaining full control over calculations and processes at every stage.
The implementation began with assortment structuring and the development of a category model in ABM Assortment.
At the initial stage, parallel operations were established: the team worked simultaneously in the existing system and in ABM Cloud to validate calculation logic.
Data exchange between MasterZoo and ABM Cloud was configured, including assortment matrices and order data.
Product attributes were assigned, and a new store clustering model was created.
Following validation of calculations and system adaptation to category-specific requirements, MasterZoo fully transitioned to ABM Cloud as the primary tool for assortment and order management.
Business Results
Key Outcomes
Implementing ABM Assortment as part of the ABM Retail Platform enabled MasterZoo to move from manual assortment management to a controlled, scalable model with a clear logic for matrices and SKU rotation. The primary impact was achieved through automation of core assortment processes and strengthened control at the network level.
Qualitative Improvements in Assortment Management
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A 20–25% reduction in out-of-matrix SKUs was achieved through controlled SKU rotation and stricter management of assortment matrices across the network.
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Labor effort was reduced by approximately 50% thanks to automation of matrix-related operations and a shift to a cluster-based assortment management model.
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Assortment matrix updates now occur 2.5 times faster, enabling quicker SKU launches, rotations, and category changes—where multiple manual steps were previously required, only a few clicks are now needed.
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Assortment management has become centralized yet flexible, allowing teams to work with clusters and individual stores without increasing structural complexity.
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Category managers now have a single point of decision-making based on analytics and reports within ABM Assortment, improving both the speed and quality of management decisions.
Client Quote
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