Inconsistent in-store execution, limited shelf visibility, and the absence of real-time insights used to define the daily reality of FMCG merchandising. Thankfully, those days are largely behind us. But revisiting the past has value — because progress doesn’t happen randomly. The patterns that drove change before can help us understand what comes next.

The shifts toward real-time data access, automation, and advanced shelf recognition technologies are not isolated trends. They point to the future direction of FMCG merchandising, and in this article, we’ll explore how the landscape has changed over the last decade — and how companies can stay current.

Key Areas in FMCG Merchandising

Merchandising is a multi-layered discipline made up of several core components. Let’s look at how each has evolved in recent years.

Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising once relied entirely on human perception — what store staff or field reps happened to notice. Today, AI, Image Recognition, and Computer Vision act as a second set of eyes, ensuring display layouts and product placements match brand standards consistently and at scale.

Shelf Management

Not long ago, sales reps manually noted stock levels and estimated shelf share. Now, FMCG Image Recognition software analyzes shelves in seconds, automatically detecting gaps, calculating share of shelf, and offering immediate insights so teams can respond in real time.

Promotional Compliance

Promotional materials once frequently arrived late, were misplaced, or were installed incorrectly — often unnoticed until after the campaign ended. Now, mobile tools and execution dashboards allow brands to track every display and activation store-by-store, ensuring campaigns launch timely and accurately.

Point-of-Sale (POS) Materials

Previously, POS materials often went unused due to lack of clarity or poor timing. Today, digital catalogs and real-time tracking ensure that materials are deployed correctly and efficiently, improving both consistency and return on investment.

In-Store Experiences

Customer engagement has always been an aspiration, but today, technology makes it tangible. Interactive displays, AR experiences, and app-integrated journeys transform the store environment into an immersive brand interaction.

Trade Show Displays

Trade shows remain relationship-driven, but digital enhancements now amplify engagement — from QR-enabled materials to live-streamed demonstrations and intelligent lead capture systems.

Digital Merchandising

What used to be simple product listings has evolved into sophisticated digital brand environments. FMCG merchandising now extends to full eCommerce ecosystems — where brands manage content, facilitate orders, and support both traditional and modern trade in a unified, data-driven environment.