Simulation modeling and analysis for in-store merchandizing of retail stores with enhanced information technology

In this study a procedure of simulation modeling for in-store merchandizing was used in order to examine customer flows in retail stores. One of the main objectives of this paper is to propose an approach of building a simulation model by making use of the POS data. The methods for identifying the arrival time and routing inside store are described, using daily POS data. This study primarily analyzed customer congestion and the utilization of the cash registers. Recently, IC tags are recognized in the fields of manufacturing and distribution systems as a powerful tool to reduce sales transaction time, with the assistance of the POS system. The proposed procedure was applied to the actual case. The results show that the customer flow can be examined easily, while the proposed procedure is useful for store management including cashiers scheduling and in-store merchandizing.