Retail scenario: Improve merchandising decisions

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Available with: Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio Scenario level:
Extend

KPIs impacted

Store revenue

Customer satisfaction

Value benefit

Cost savings

Increase revenue

Using Copilot to improve merchandising decisions


1. Define sales targets

Define topside sales targets based on historical data, market trends, and business goals. Use a Copilot agent to access data in the Sales database.

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Copilot Studio Agent

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Copilot Studio

Example prompt: Generate a table showing moderate sportswear sales by location for Q4 of last year, sorted by year-over-year (YoY) change. Include a current season-to-date column with YoY change.

2. Conduct market research

Research consumer demographics and spending trends by geography.

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Business Chat1

Example prompt: What are the current blouse style trends in the greater London area, and which demographic is influencing these trends? Which retailers are carrying the most trend-right blouse items?

3. Create a dashboard

Visualize sales trends to help make purchasing decisions.

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Copilot in Power BI

Example prompt: Create a custom view in a Power BI dashboard to visualize data on seasonal apparel trends.

4. Make product selections

Curate an assortment of products, including trending styles, seasonal items, and basic staples. Use a Copilot Studio agent to access data in the Sales database.

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Copilot Studio Agent

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Copilot Studio

Example prompt: Considering last year’s sales history and the current season-to-date performance, what is the optimal proportion of basic collared shirts versus fashion blouses for this year’s Q4 assortment?

5. Update projects

Using a Copilot Studio agent integrate the sales forecast into regional staffing level projections.

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Copilot Studio Agent

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Copilot Studio

Example prompt: Determine the differential in sales projections to current sales levels and apply that differential to staffing level projections.

6. Complete supplier agreements

Negotiate contract terms including margin and MAP pricing agreements.

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Copilot Studio Agent

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Copilot Studio

Example prompt: Provide the MAP pricing terms that our vendor, Contoso, agreed to for Q4 products last year.    Compare these terms with what we negotiated for this year in a table format.

1Access Copilot at copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Copilot mobile app and set toggle to “Web”.

2Access Business Chat at copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Copilot mobile app and set toggle to “Web”.

3Copilot agents allow Microsoft 365 Copilot to access your organization-specific apps. In the past, this would have required an API call to get data from a system of record. The content in this example scenario is for demonstration purposes only. You should evaluate how Copilot aligns with your organization’s business processes, regulatory requirements, and responsible AI principles.

The content in this example scenario is for demonstration purposes only. You should evaluate how Copilot aligns with your organization’s business processes, regulatory requirements, and responsible AI principles.