“The main challenge we had was getting total category reporting, and with Nuqleous, we were able to get that data,” Rodriguez noted.
The Problem
In 2023, Duracell faced a promising opportunity to optimize its operations when Walmart transitioned its reporting system from the long-standing DSS (Decision Support System) to the new Walmart Luminate platform. This change presented a new set of options to track key sales and inventory data in real time, essential for making informed business decisions. However, Duracell quickly realized that the company needed an agile external solution to augment its retail intelligence capabilities and make the most of the Walmart Luminate promise.
The Solution
The Duracell team did a rigorous review of available platforms, including the ones offered by leading providers of multi-enterprise supply chain business networks. However, none of them fit the company needs.
Then Duracell decided to turn to Nuqleous and its Spotlight Retail Analytics platform because of its unique place in the Walmart ecosystem: the solution was already equipped with the capabilities to pull data from Walmart’s Luminate platform.
"Nuqleous Spotlight already had existing reports and the experience to pull the Walmart Luminate API," explained Rossy Rodriguez, Sales Account Manager at Duracell in charge of ensuring Duracell’s products are well-stocked and tracked across multiple retail channels. "So, it wasn’t something we had to build from scratch, and we could get our reports in place quickly."
One key feature that drove Duracell’s decision was Nuqleous’ ability to provide comprehensive category data, which was previously inaccessible through Walmart’s systems.
“The main challenge we had was getting total category reporting, and with Nuqleous, we were able to get that data,” Rodriguez noted.
“I receive a weekly report that Spotlight sends to my email on Sunday. I review the data and add my commentary before sending it out to the team,” Rodriguez explained. “Both routine and cyclical reporting became easier.”
The Implementation
The implementation process was smooth and efficient, allowing Duracell to transition without any major disruptions.
"The implementation went pretty smooth," Rodriguez recalled. "It took about four weeks to get the API started and for us to begin ingesting the data. The training with the Nuqleous team went really well. We didn’t have any major obstacles during the process."
Even though some team members initially hesitated to adopt the new system, the transition was ultimately successful. "Some of my team members had been using the DSS platform for 30 years, so it was a hard transition, but the Nuqleous team helped by making the reports user-friendly and available when we needed them," Rodriguez explained.
An Unexpected Event
A few weeks after the system was fully operational, a hurricane hit the Houston, Texas area, causing a significant spike in demand for batteries. Rodriguez used Nuqleous Spotlight’s advanced analytics to track the impact of the hurricane on Duracell’s sales.
“We really wanted to analyze the impact the hurricane had on battery sales—both before and after it hit,” Rodriguez explained. By using Spotlight’s heat map feature, she was able to identify which stores in Texas were most affected by the event. “I created a heat map of all the Texas stores and color-coded them based on sales impact. Stores with a positive impact were coded green, and those with a negative impact were coded red. This helped us see that a group of stores in Houston, where the hurricane hit first, was significantly impacted.”
The Results
Duracell’s partnership with Nuqleous produced a range of positive outcomes, both expected and unexpected:
- Improved Category Reporting: With Nuqleous Spotlight, Duracell gained access to comprehensive category reporting, a feature they lacked with Walmart's DSS system. "The solution provides a one-stop reporting hub—from sales to supply chain to category," said Rodriguez. "Now, we have insights into the entire category, which has been a game-changer for us."
- Efficient Weekly Reporting: Nuqleous has automated Duracell's weekly reports with Spotlight, delivering them every Monday morning. “I receive a weekly report that Spotlight sends to my email on Sunday. I review the data and add my commentary before sending it out to the team,” Rodriguez explained. “Both routine and cyclical reporting became easier.”
- Simplified Ad Hoc Reporting: With Spotlight, Duracell’s team can pull ad hoc reports in a matter of minutes. “Whenever I need an ad hoc report, I go into Spotlight’s data canvas option and pull the necessary information,” said Rodriguez. This was particularly helpful for handling quick requests.
- Hurricane Sales Surge: The data gathered during the Houston hurricane revealed a significant increase in sales. “We saw a sales lift of 100% in battery purchases during the week the hurricane hit,” Rodriguez shared. This insight allowed Duracell to collaborate with Walmart to ensure restocking efforts were appropriately targeted. “Now, we can use this data to inform our merchant about the demand spikes during natural disasters, so we can better prepare in the future,” she added.
- Nuqleous Favorite Feature: When asked to name her favorite feature of Nuqleous Spotlight, Rodriguez responded, "I like the graphs and the combo KPI feature. The already existing combo KPIs are great, but I also love that I, as a creator, can build my own visualizations. It’s really flexible and makes reporting more insightful and efficient."
- Smooth Transition: While some team members were initially resistant to switching from DSS to Nuqleous, the process was ultimately successful. Over time, the team adapted, with Rodriguez noting, "I have completely transitioned to using Spotlight."
Conclusion
Duracell’s experience with Nuqleous Spotlight demonstrates the power of a well-integrated, data-driven solution in overcoming operational challenges. By bridging the gap left by Walmart’s system transition and enabling Duracell to handle unexpected events like hurricanes, Nuqleous Spotlight has proven invaluable in optimizing reporting processes and supporting Duracell’s business.
“I think Spotlight has been great,” said Rodriguez. “The team at Nuqleous has been there whenever I needed help, and the solution has made our operations more efficient.” Looking forward, Duracell is confident in its ability to meet both routine and unexpected challenges with Nuqleous Spotlight.
When asked if she would recommend Nuqleous to other companies, Rodriguez replied, “Yes, I would. It’s been a reliable solution that has helped us keep up with the demands of our business.”
