Slottinganalys

Slottinganalys, or slotting analysis, is a process used in retail and logistics to determine the optimal placement of products within shelves, bins, or warehouse zones. The aim is to maximize sales, improve replenishment and picker efficiency, and make efficient use of available space while considering product attributes and handling constraints.

The approach relies on data such as historical demand and velocity, product size, weight, packaging, and fragility, as well as shelf or lane dimensions, load-bearing limits, and planogram or store layout. In warehouses, slotting assigns high-velocity items to accessible locations, often near outbound staging, and groups items by velocity or category. In stores, slotting guides planograms that determine shelf positions and product adjacencies.

Methods range from simple rules of thumb, such as velocity-based or ABC analysis, to optimization models including linear or mixed-integer programming, heuristics, and simulation. The outputs include a slot-to-location mapping, zone configurations, and replenishment recommendations, as well as a schedule for re-slotting when demand shifts occur.

Benefits of slottinganalys include reduced travel time, lower picker error, improved stock availability, better space utilization, and faster item switching. Limitations involve data quality, changing demand, the need for cross-functional alignment, and costs associated with re-slotting and ongoing maintenance. The approach is widely used in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar operations to support efficient inventory placement and store or facility design.