What challenges did Kotsovolos face before AI implementation?

Managing planograms for 100+ stores was manually intensive and prone to error. Printed merchandising instructions caused inefficiency and high paper usage. Stores struggled with space management and lack of real-time inventory data. Headquarters and stores faced delays and errors in communication about planogram changes.

What was the impact of the AI solution?

Reduced printing by 70%. Increased space efficiency by 20%. Boosted operational efficiency by 50%. Achieved 97% planogram compliance across stores. Eliminated more than 3,400 store layout issues. Reduced necessary communication for planogram clarification by over 50%.

Source

MicrosoftProductionEvidence: Medium65/100

Kotsovolos enhances retail efficiency and sustainability through digital twin platform

Use case typeInventory monitoringUpdated Jun 13, 2026

Kotsovolos, a leading electrical and electronics retailer in Greece, manages around 100 stores and thousands of products per location. Facing challenges in accurate planogram management and operational inefficiencies, Kotsovolos partnered with Microsoft and Yodiwo to develop Plano360—a digital twin-based store management platform. Plano360 automates planogram distribution and compliance, integrates with Azure and Power BI for real-time inventory views and analytics, and enhances collaboration between stores and headquarters. The initiative resulted in substantial reductions in manual effort, paper usage, and communication delays. Planogram compliance soared from typical industry averages below 50% to 97%, while space and operational efficiency significantly improved. The solution has set the stage for wider future AI and sustainability initiatives and offers a model of continuous improvement for other retailers.

Organization: Kotsovolos
Industry: Retail
Location: Greece

Reported outcomes

−70%

quantified impactOther quantified impact

+20%productivity+50%productivity97%quantified impact−50%quantified impact

Strategic outcomes

New product / capabilityLaunched a digital twin planogram platformSpeed & agilityAutomated planogram distribution and complianceBetter decisions & insightEnabled real-time reporting and dashboardsSustainability & ESGReduced paper usage in merchandising

Why do we believe this?Outcome claims, sources, and evidence checks

Normalized claim

Quantified impact: 70% decrease

Microsoft Customer StoriesCustomer storyInferred claimMedium evidence strength

Reduced printing by 70%.

Normalized claim

Productivity: 20% increase

Microsoft Customer StoriesCustomer storyInferred claimMedium evidence strength

Increased space efficiency by 20%.

Normalized claim

Productivity: 50% increase

Microsoft Customer StoriesCustomer storyInferred claimMedium evidence strength

Boosted operational efficiency by 50%.

Normalized claim

Quantified impact: 97%

Microsoft Customer StoriesCustomer storyInferred claimMedium evidence strength

Achieved 97% planogram compliance across stores.

Normalized claim

Quantified impact: 50% decrease

Microsoft Customer StoriesCustomer storyInferred claimMedium evidence strength

Reduced necessary communication for planogram clarification by over 50%.

Why do we believe this deployment?Customer identity, provider attribution, maturity, and source checks

Customer: Kotsovolos, Dixons South East Europe
Provider: Microsoft
Maturity: Production
Linked source: Microsoft Customer Stories

Facing challenges in accurate planogram management and operational inefficiencies, Kotsovolos partnered with Microsoft and Yodiwo to develop Plano360—a digital twin-based store management platform

Customer identity supportedSource describes one deploymentMaturity supported

Primary read

Use case focus

Showing 3 of 3

1Digital Twin Platform for Planogram Management
2Real-Time Inventory Analytics and Compliance
3Operational Efficiency with Automated Retail Task Flows

Managing planograms for 100+ stores was manually intensive and prone to error.
Printed merchandising instructions caused inefficiency and high paper usage.
Stores struggled with space management and lack of real-time inventory data.
Headquarters and stores faced delays and errors in communication about planogram changes.

Partnered with Yodiwo to develop Plano360, a digital twin platform for planogram automation.
Powered the solution with Microsoft Azure and integrated it with Power BI for real-time dashboards.
Automated planogram compliance and provided digital, instant distribution of layouts and merchandising guides.
Enabled real-time reporting and collaborative features to enhance communication and task tracking.

Technologies

Azure Power BI

Reduced printing by 70%.
Increased space efficiency by 20%.
Boosted operational efficiency by 50%.
Achieved 97% planogram compliance across stores.
Eliminated more than 3,400 store layout issues.
Reduced necessary communication for planogram clarification by over 50%.

Architecture

Plano360, developed by Yodiwo and powered by Microsoft Azure, acts as a digital twin for each store, automating planogram creation, compliance checking, and real-time inventory management. The system integrates with Power BI for live analytics and dashboards, facilitating seamless communication between store-level staff and headquarters, and allowing instant updates and follow-up tasks for merchandising changes.

Implementation partners1

Yodiwo

Sources & evidence1

Evidence: Medium65/100Evidence strength