Layout

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to analyze the layout concept in SAP Retail

The Layout Concept

The layout concept in SAP Retail allows you to define detailed article placement information for your stores, and it interfaces to shelf optimization systems. There are several options how you can implement your layout concept in SAP Retail.

The layout concept in SAP Retail evolved over various releases. All options are still available in the SAP S/4HANA system. This means you can create a layout which comprises layout modules, and which sorts these layout modules by so-called layout areas. A layout can either be assigned to a store, or to an assortment.

Note

The assignment of a layout to a department was replaced from a functional point of view by the assignment to the assortment, as it provides important functional features in contrast to the department. Also, the layout transactions don’t support the department assignment.

The latest option is to only focus on maintaining layout modules for assortments. In that case, for each general assortment, a layout module can be created.

Before release 6.0 of SAP Retail (SAP ECC), a layout was always created to group layout modules. The layout could then be assigned to a store or to a general assortment. As of release 6.0 of SAP Retail (SAP ECC) and in the SAP S/4HANA system, it is possible to create/assign a layout module instead of a layout to a general assortment. This is determined in the assortment type customizing.

An article can be assigned to one or several layout modules.

The layout modules can be assigned to one or more layouts, or they can be created/assigned directly to general assortments, depending on the customizing settings for the assortment type.

The layout can be used to determine how the assortment list is sorted.

Layout module versions are used for the assignment of articles to layout modules. This means each layout module has at least one layout module version. As each layout module version has a unique validity period (no overlaps), you can for example map seasonal changes in a shelf. Layout module versions can contain articles from different merchandise categories. An article can be assigned to several layout module versions and can also be positioned in different places on a shelf in the same layout module version. The versions allow you to plan in advance. When the planning for a layout module version is finished, you can change the status from planned to released.

When you execute listing from the Layout Workbench, the listing period of the articles corresponds to the validity period of the layout module versions to which the articles are assigned. However, a number of days lead time for listing can be defined in customizing.

Since stores generally carry thousands of articles, it can take a lot of time and effort to assign layout modules and assortments to the stores and to create the corresponding listing conditions in the system. It also takes a lot of time and effort to make changes to individual store layout modules, but this can be avoided in a lot of cases. In particular in the case of stores, the assortments of which are similar (but not identical), you can use layout module variants to greatly simplify these processes.

A layout module variant can be understood as a sort of "exception module". You always create a layout module variant for a layout module version. The variant then contains the "delta" information, that is it contains the article assignments which differ from the layout module version. This can be any number of additional and/or removed articles. The layout module variant is then assigned to the relevant stores. In that, it maps regional or store-specific variances in layout module versions. Normally, layout module variants are created for stores that differ the least from the standard assortment.

The layout module variants have the same validity period as their versions.

Space management optimizes the placement of the articles on a shelf from a business viewpoint and makes sure that the shelf space is optimally used. In this case, key figures are defined, and the position of an article should be optimized according to these key figures. This usually concerns sales data and revenue data, or the gross margin.

It is advisable to interface a space management system with SAP Retail. If there is no suitable interface for space management:

  • Data is maintained twice

  • Space management is not integrated into relevant business processes

  • New articles are not included in the planning process

  • Optimization results are not used

This interface guarantees regular data interchange and ensures that the space management program is provided with the most up-to-date data, and that space management is included in all relevant business processes.

When activities, for which space management is relevant, are carried out in SAP Retail (for example, a new article is included in the assortment and is assigned to a shelf), the interface is triggered - partly by a workflow, or automatically - which means that you are guaranteed that it is immediately taken into account in the space management program and data inconsistencies are avoided.

The optimized data can then be used again in SAP Retail, for example, in listing.

Create a New Layout and Layout Modules

From Exercise — Create a New Layout and Layout Modules, demo.

Task — Layout and Layout Module Maintenance

Task — General Assortment and Layout Module

Steps

  1. From Exercise — Create a New Layout and Layout Modules, the participants perform

    Task — Layout and Layout Module Maintenance

    Task — General Assortment and Layout Module

Create a New Layout and Layout Modules

Business Example

To achieve a high recognition factor of the stores within the same distribution chain, the setup of the shelves in the stores should be the same for all. Thus, you define shelves (layout modules), and a assign them to a new layout which can then be used for several sites.

Afterwards, you want to test how you can directly connect a general assortment with a layout module, because in future, you don’t want to use the Layout any more for grouping layout modules. You then use the layout workbench to perform listing for your general assortment / layout module combination. Thus, you work with an assortment type which ensures that for each general assortment, a layout module is created and assigned automatically.

Task 1: Layout and Layout Module Maintenance

As some additional articles are carried in your stores, you create a new layout on the basis of existing data, and you enhance this layout according to your requirements.

Steps

  1. In the layout module maintenance, create the following new layout modules:

    Layout ModuleDescription
    51##Confectionary GR##
    52##Beverages GR##
    save your entries and confirm the message(s): Layout module 51## / 52## was successfully created

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Layout→Layout Module Maintenance - New.

      Switch to change mode and choose New Entries. Make your entries as specified in the task.

  2. You now want to fill your layout module with articles. Call the Layout Workbench and display your layout module 51## Confectionery GR##. Which versions already exist for your module and for how long are these versions valid?

    ___________________________________________

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Layout→Layout Workbench - New.

      Go to the tab for Layout Modules and enter your layout module 51## Confectionery GR##.

      Version 0000 was automatically created with the validity period from today to December 31, 9999.

      Stay in this transaction.

  3. In version 0000, you include some articles from merchandise category RS11310 Cookies/Crackers. Use the sorting function to select several single articles or variants with the unit of measure EA for the assignment .

    1. Expand layout module 51## and click version 0000.

      Choose Assign Materials. Select the tab By Material. make the following entries:

      Material*##
      Material GroupRS11310
      In the result list, highlight the column Unit of Measure and choose the button Sort in Descending Order. Select some of the single articles or variants with the unit of measure EA. Assign your selected articles. Save and exit the Layout Workbench.

  4. Now create a new layout L## as a copy of layout FOOD with the description Layout Gr##. Save your layout and confirm the information message.

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Layout→Layout Maintenance - New.

      Select the change mode and highlight the layout FOOD in the Overview of all Layouts. Choose Edit→Copy with Assignments→To Layout: L##

      Your new layout is displayed in the overview of all Layouts. Enter the description: Layout Gr##. Confirm the information message: Layout L## was successfully changed.

      Stay in this transaction.

  5. Add the modules 51## and 52## to your new layout L##. To do this, use the right side of the screen and choose Layout Modules.

    1. Select L## and choose Update.

      In the lower half of the screen on the right-hand side, select layout modules 51## and 52##, and choose button Assign.

      Save your entries.

  6. Assign layout L## to store R1##.

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Layout→Layout Maintenance - New.

      Select the change mode and choose the Stores tab.

    2. SelectL## and choose Update. In the lower half of the screen on the right-hand side, select Store R1## and choose Assign.

    3. If the following query is displayed:The layout ..... is assigned to site R1##. Do you want to replace it? Confirm by choosing Yes.

Task 2: General Assortment and Layout Module

You check the customizing settings for assortment types and layout listing, as you want to work with a 1:1 layout module assignment to your assortment. Then, you maintain a new version for a layout module, and list the articles of this version using the layout workbench. You then check, if the listing conditions were created correctly.

Steps

  1. a) Check the settings for assortment type BASI in Customizing. What’s the meaning of the three flags which are set regarding layout modules? Use the F1 Help to find the answer. Don’t make any changes. Then check these settings for assortment type FASH (don’t make any changes).

    Note

    Assortments without assortment type assignment still provide the option of assigning a layout, as in former releases.

    b) Find and check the relevant customizing setting regarding the lead time for creating listing conditions using the Layout Workbench.

    Number of days lead time: ___________ Don’t make any changes.

    1. Logistics — General→Assortment→Assortment→Maintain Assortment Types.

      Select Assortment Type BASI, and choose Details.

      The 3 flags are set: The first one controls that instead of a layout, a layout module can be assigned to the general assortment. The second flag controls, that the system should automatically create a layout module for a new general assortment. If not maintained manually, the key of the layout module then corresponds to the key of the general assortment. The third flag controls that the layout module field is not ready for input, thus the layout module assignment can’t be changed.

      Go Back, and select Assortment Type FASH. Then choose Details.

      Here, the flags are not set.

    2. Logistics — General→Assortment→Assortment→Maintain Difference for Presentation/Listing Period.

      The lead time is 0 days.

  2. Assortments with assortment type BASI and FASH already exist. Check assortment R1KIDSS##: Which layout assignment options exist? ________________________ Then display your assortment R1OUTD## and check, if as per customizing settings, layout module with the same key is available. Which assortment users are assigned to this assortment? _________________________________

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Assortment→General Assortment→Display.

      Display assortment R1KIDSS##. A Layout can be assigned to this assortment. Now check the difference in assortment R1OUTD##:

      Display assortment R1OUTD##. Here, a Layout Module with the key R1OUTD## is assigned.

      Choose tab Assortment User: Store R5## is assigned.

  3. Now, go to the Layout Workbench to work on your layout module R1OUTD##. Check, if the assortment users are displayed when you choose Stores (Assigned Store Display).

    Currently, only one version exists. From the layout workbench, you want to create a new version, starting on the first of the month after next, with open validity period (31.12.9999). Therefore, you define the last day of next month as the end date of your current version. Then display the two versions in the layout workbench, and stay in this view to continue with the next step.

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Layout→Layout Workbench - New.

      Go to the tab for Layout Modules and enter your layout module R1OUTD##. Execute your selection.

      Choose Stores: Yes, the assortment user R5## is displayed.

      Now create a new version: From the top menu bar, choose: Goto→Version Maintenance. Your layout module number is displayed. Execute, and choose Display→Change to switch to the change mode. Select the line, and in the application toolbar, choose Copy with Material Assignments. In the pop-up, choose Yes, then enter the last day of next month as End Date for Last Version.

      Save the new version, and go Back twice to the layout workbench.

      There, choose Refresh, then open the Layout Module folder. The two versions 0000, and 0001 are now available.

      Stay in this view to continue with the next step.

  4. Your new version 0001 currently has five article assignments, that is, the variants of the generic article R1TA01##. You want to add the article R1TA02##. Then return to the layout workbench, and release the new version.

    Stay in this view to continue with the next step.

    1. Click on version 0001. Currently, the variants of generic article R1TA01## is assigned. They have the article numbers R1TA01##001 - R1TA01##005. To add further articles, you choose Assign Materials.

      In the pop-up, tab By Material, enter R1TA01##*, and (use Multiple Selection) R1TA02##. Choose Continue.

      In the Selection of Material table, the already assigned variants appear with a green traffic light. Select article R1TA02##. Then press Assign and Save.

      Go Back twice: In the pop-up, you now see all assigned articles. Choose Continue to return to the layout workbench.

      Here, press button Planned to release your new version 0001. Answer the confirmation prompt with Yes.

  5. Next, list the articles of the new version 0001 from the layout workbench.

    1. Select the line of version 0001. From the top menu bar, choose: Edit→Create Assortments.

      In the pop-up, your assortment R1OUTD## appears as not listed (red traffic light). Choose Continue to start listing. Press Continue again to close the next pop-up.

      Exit the layout workbench.

  6. Now check if listing was successful for your assortment R1OUTD##. Was the lead time of 0 days considered? What does the "L" mean in column LS?

    1. Master Data→Assortment/Listing→Evaluations→For Assortments→Material per Assortment.

      Enter your assortment R1OUTD##, and Execute.

      Yes, all articles of your version 0001 are listed (along with another article which was listed earlier), and the lead time of 0 days was considered. The valid-from date is 0 days earlier, that is, not earlier than the first of the month after next, which is the validity start date of your layout module version 0001. Put the cursor on letter "L" in any line, and check the F4 Help: It means that listing was performed using the layout workbench.

Learning

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