GTDI framework for field rep management: transform training into real planogram execution. Case study with 40% improvement in 90 days + template.
"Why is the planogram always wrong?" — the question every trade marketing manager has heard from the commercial director at 3 PM on a Monday. You know the standards were sent to distributors. You know there are 200+ promoters in the field. But when audit reaches the point of sale, 60% of displays are off-standard.
The problem isn't lack of procedures. It's that between the planogram manual and real execution at point of sale lies a gap: promoters never validated in practice, distributors without standardized processes, and zero correlation between shelf execution and sales dashboard performance.
85% of brands face incorrect planogram execution at retail, resulting in average sales loss of 12-18% due to poor execution. More critical: average correction time is 7-15 days when teams aren't properly trained — versus 2-3 days with trained promoters.
The difference lies in transforming planogram knowledge into validated field competency. It's not about having more supervisors or more sophisticated audit apps. It's about connecting training to measurable execution using methodology that works within distributors' operational reality.
The national beverage brand discovered the hard way: after investing $160,000 in a launch campaign, audit showed only 40% of retail outlets were executing the planogram correctly. Product was in stores but invisible to consumers.
"We sent materials, trained supervisors, even held video meetings with distributors," reported the trade marketing manager. "Yet when it mattered, the promoter at retail didn't know which product to prioritize at eye level or how to organize the complete family vertically."
This is where traditional approaches show their structural limitation: they assume information automatically transforms into execution. In reality, 70% of distributors lack standardized processes for planogram execution, according to the Brazilian Association of Wholesalers and Distributors (2023).
The cost of this disconnect is measurable:
But the underlying problem is more specific: traditional supervision treats planograms as visual control, not validated competency. The supervisor arrives, corrects the error, leaves — and next week the same error is there. Because the promoter never learned why that organization generates more sales, only that "it has to look like this."
It's this gap between knowledge and execution that the GTDI Framework was developed to solve — connecting promoter training to measurable retail performance.
The GTDI Framework transforms promoter management from a control problem into a validated training system. Instead of supervising errors, you build competency that prevents errors.
The first pillar eliminates the main cause of inconsistent execution: each distributor interpreting planograms their own way.
In practice: creating a unified manual with objective approval/rejection criteria. Instead of "organize products attractively," the standard specifies: "category A at eye level (1.2m to 1.6m), maximum 3 SKUs per horizontal facing, complete family organized vertically."
The cleaning products brand that implemented this standardization discovered 40% of discrepancies came from different interpretations of the same planogram between distributors in the same region. With objective criteria, alignment time dropped from 3 weeks to 3 days.
Mandatory deliverable: validation checklist where any supervisor can approve or reject execution using the same criteria, regardless of region or distributor.
Here's the critical difference: transforming static manuals into learning experiences where promoters must demonstrate competency before working alone at retail.
Methodology: promoters don't "read about planograms" — they physically build correct planograms in 3 different categories and are approved only when executing without error. If they make mistakes in assembly, they repeat until correct.
Companies with trained promoters have 23% higher adherence to display standards — because competency was validated in practice, not just tested theoretically.
Validation example: promoter receives 12 products from a category and must organize them correctly on shelf within 8 minutes maximum. Only approved when they can do this without consulting manual or asking for help.
The result: when they reach real retail, they already know how to execute — no need to improvise or interpret.
The third pillar solves the challenge of delivering validated training to 200+ promoters across dozens of distributors without exploding operational costs.
Approach: transform distributors themselves into training multipliers using standardized methodology. Distributor receives complete kit (manual + training + validation process) and replicates to their team.
Structured training costs 3x less than traditional supervision, with superior results in standards adherence.
Practical implementation: each distributor has a certified responsible person who applies the same validation process. Brand provides methodology, distributor executes training, but approval criteria are unique and universal.
A beverage distributor network managed to train 200+ promoters in 6 weeks using this approach — something that would take 6 months with direct brand supervision.
The fourth pillar connects training to business results: dashboard showing planogram adherence by region versus sales performance, identifying where correct execution is generating more sell-through.
Critical metric: correlation between % planogram adherence and sales performance by period. Regions with over 80% adherence sell 25% more in category — data that only emerges when you measure both variables systematically.
This transforms planograms from "aesthetic obligation" to "results driver": promoters understand following standards isn't bureaucracy, it's a tool to increase sales in their territory.
Dashboard in action: regional manager can see Distributor A has 90% adherence and 20% superior performance, while Distributor B has 50% adherence and sales below target. Corrective action becomes obvious: intensify training at B using methodology that already works at A.
Co-founder and Product Manager at Evous. Writes about how product and the GTDI method connect knowledge to action at the commercial front line.
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Calculate the ROIThe national beverage brand faced a critical problem: with 200+ promoters working through regional distributors, only 40% of retail outlets executed planograms correctly. Impact on sales was direct — regions with low adherence sold 30% less than market potential.
"It wasn't laziness or ill will from promoters," explained the trade marketing director. "It was lack of clarity about what to do and why to do it. Each distributor taught differently, when they taught at all."
Management (weeks 1-2): creation of unified manual with visual standards for 3 product categories. Instead of generic descriptions, objective criteria: "soft drinks at eye level, juices on intermediate shelf, water at bottom — with complete vertical family and maximum 3 SKUs per facing."
Transformation (weeks 3-6): development of practical training where each promoter must build planogram correctly before approval. The test: organize 15 products from the line in a simulated gondola, following standards, within 10 minutes maximum.
Distribution (weeks 7-10): training through regional distributors. Each distributor designated a responsible person to apply validation methodology. Brand trained multipliers, who replicated to their teams using standardized process.
Insights (weeks 11-12): dashboard implementation correlating planogram adherence (measured by bi-weekly audit) with sales by region. Result emerged immediately: regions with over 80% adherence sold 25% more.
More importantly: the process became self-sustaining. Distributors began using the same methodology to train new promoters, maintaining quality standards without constant brand presence.
"What changed was transforming planograms from 'brand rule' to 'promoter tool'," concluded the regional manager. "Now they understand following standards increases sales in their territory."
The case illustrates the GTDI Framework differential: training that generates validated autonomy, not dependence on constant supervision.
The main problem is that 70% of distributors lack standardized processes for planogram execution, creating a gap between planogram manuals and real execution at point of sale. Traditional approaches assume information automatically transforms into execution, but promoters never validate their competency in practice. This results in each distributor interpreting planograms their own way, leading to inconsistent execution across retail outlets.
Brands face average sales loss of 12-18% due to poor planogram execution, with 85% of brands experiencing incorrect execution at retail. Regions with over 80% planogram adherence sell 25% more in their category compared to those with poor execution. This demonstrates the direct correlation between correct planogram implementation and sales performance.
Average correction time is 7-15 days when teams aren't properly trained, versus 2-3 days with trained promoters. Companies with structured training achieve 30% reduction in discrepancies and can identify and correct problems much faster. The difference lies in having promoters who understand correct execution from the start, rather than requiring constant supervision and correction.
The GTDI Framework transforms promoter management from a control problem into a validated training system, building competency that prevents errors rather than just supervising and correcting them. Instead of promoters reading about planograms, they must physically build correct planograms in different categories and demonstrate competency before working alone at retail. This creates validated autonomy rather than dependence on constant supervision.
The approach involves transforming distributors themselves into training multipliers using standardized methodology, where each distributor receives a complete kit and replicates training to their team. Structured training costs 3x less than traditional supervision while delivering superior results in standards adherence. Each distributor designates a certified responsible person who applies the same validation process, maintaining quality standards without constant brand presence.
Brands can achieve 40% improvement in planogram adherence, with compliance rates rising from 40% to 84% of retail outlets within 90 days. Regions with high adherence typically exceed sales targets by 15-20%, while correction times drop significantly. The process becomes self-sustaining as distributors begin using the same methodology to train new promoters independently.
The GTDI Framework adapts to different distribution structures, from regional operations to complex national networks. The template below structures implementation according to your operational reality, with timeline, specific milestones and field-validated checklists.
Before starting, identify which profile best describes your operation:
Profile A — Concentrated Regional Operation
Profile B — Structured National Network
Profile C — Complex National Operation
Week 1-2: Management — Accelerated Standardization
Week 3-4: Transformation — Practical Validation
Week 5-6: Distribution — Direct Implementation
Week 1-3: Management — Structured Standardization
Week 4-7: Transformation — Scaled Training
Week 8-10: Distribution — Implementation via Multipliers
Week 1-4: Management — National Standardization
Week 5-9: Transformation — Multiplier Academy
Week 10-12: Distribution — National Implementation
The template is field-tested and adjusted for different operational realities. For sustainable results, implement the profile corresponding to your current structure, validate specific milestones and expand based on measurable results.
To structure your specific pilot, also consider retail execution strategies for indirect channels that complement training with consistent commercial processes.
The GTDI Framework transforms promoter management from operational problem to competitive advantage. When promoters know not just "what to do" but "why to do it" and "how to measure results," planograms stop being obligations and become growth tools.
The difference between brands that achieve consistent retail execution and those constantly firefighting lies in methodology: training validated in practice, distributed at scale, measured by business results.
Want to design a planogram control pilot for your operation? Schedule a 15-minute demonstration and leave with a diagnosis of the best path to implement GTDI in your distribution reality.
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