The End [of DSS] is Nigh! 😩🌅

The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Walmart’s New Reporting App 🕯️

*can you spot all 7 cinematic references in this newsletter? 👀

Greetings, Vendorville 👋🏼

In honor of the 16th anniversary of the Disney Channel original film The Cheetah Girls: One World, we’ve decided to bring Vendorville to you this week in the form of a cinematic experience.

It was only 13 years ago that Bane reminded us that there is a difference between merely adopting and having been born in the dark. Suppliers know what he’s talking about: visibility into performance and replenishment data is not always as clear-cut as a Little Miss Sunshine competition.

Most suppliers will have to adopt something of the darkness as their old reliable Decision Support (DSS) reporting app is finally–after more than twenty years of service–hanging up the cape.

With the onset of Luminate, however, there is also hope of better things to come. The transition has been painful for many, but the new reporting platform boasts more accurate reports and an omnichannel emphasis that can drive better insights.

Blinded by the Light 💡

What has made this transition more challenging than wandering the frozen terrain of the early 19th-century frontier, after barely surviving a bear attack, to find the man who betrayed you and exact revenge??? Namely, the replacement of old reports with Luminate reports, which feature new names and data points.

A crucial component of this transition for Walmart suppliers is navigating the choice between Luminate Basic, the free version, and Luminate Charter, the paid version. The fee for Luminate Charter is based on retail sales, not the supplier’s sales to the retailer, and some of its perks are access to category data, insights into shopper demographics, and feedback from customers.

Looking on the Bright Side 🫣

Change is hard. We know this. Walmart suppliers definitely know this. 💯 But many suppliers have found the new user experience of Luminate kind of refreshing. Plus, learning how to navigate Luminate can help suppliers get a better sense of Walmart’s larger vision with the platform.

Maybe, with resources like this eBook, A Guide to Walmart's Luminate, you can turn your frown upside down and get a head start on innovative reporting that gives your team The Edge (Alec Baldwin & Anthony Hopkins, 1997). We (and the bear that attacked you) applaud the effort:

Retailer News 🗞️

Mars.com

Mars to Acquire Kellanova

“Mars, Incorporated… announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement… to acquire Kellanova for $83.50 per share in cash, for a total consideration of $35.9 billion, including assumed net leverage.”

PYMNTS

Amazon Deals Expands to TikTok, Pinterest

“Amazon has partnered with TikTok and Pinterest to let the users of those social media apps buy products from Amazon without leaving those apps.”

ABC

CVS Health cuts its 2024 forecast a third time, dragged down by insurance struggles

“CVS Health chopped its 2024 forecast for a third time this year and changed the leadership of its health insurance business where it continues to struggle with rising costs.”

Rick’s Tips 💘

Little known fact: Rick is a movie buff who never misses a new release in theaters. That’s why he also recommends staying up-to-date on all of Walmart’s supplier-impacting updates. While not all of them are blockbusters, some have a significant impact. 😉

Luminate Updates

Release Notes: In the Resources page (see the right side drop-down menu), Walmart has included summaries of their monthly updates

The June Release has updates for Shopper Behavior, Assortment Deep Dive, Customer Perception, Report Builder, Walmart Luminate Data Feeds APIs, BI Link, and NRT APIs.
The July Release has updates for New Product (see the Digital Landscapes section below), Walmart Luminate Platform, Shopper Behavior, Assortment Deep Dive, New Endpoints in Walmart Luminate Data Feeds APIs, Insights Dashboard, and Report Builder.

Digital Landscapes (Beta)

Some Charter users have been given beta access to a new app called Digital Landscapes, which serves to show .com and Mobile App performance.

Let's Circle Back ⭕

In the last couple of newsletters, we’ve been asking for feedback. Your voice is important to us because it helps us to curate and design content around real supplier needs!

Are you a supplier who deals with deductions, chargebacks, or fines from retailers and distributors? Take this 5 minute survey and receive a $25 gift card for your feedback!

*Did you spot all 7 cinematic references in this newsletter 👀

Check your work:

Charade (1963)
The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The Revenant (2015)
The Edge (1997)
The Wolf of Wallstreet (2013)

❤️ Sincerely, Your Friends in Vendorville

SupplierWiki