Applied Intelligence Briefing
Edge Analytics / Applied Intelligence BriefingCase study
Branch segmentation
Edge Analytics combined transaction, customer and location evidence for a large UK plumbers merchant to understand the role of each branch, its trading environment and its location strength.
- Client
- Large UK plumbers merchant
- Method
- Branch segmentation
- Purpose
- Network strategy
Customer, transaction and location evidence for network strategy
The business challenge
What role does each branch play - and how strong is its local position?
Context
The plumbers merchant operates an extensive network serving local trade customers. Individual branches differ in customer mix, purchasing behaviour, product range, local market conditions and competitive pressure.
Requirement
Create a consistent segmentation that defined each branch's role and function while explaining how customer behaviour, location strength and market environment shaped its position.
Method
- 01
Transaction evidence
Analysed product mix, customer types and purchasing behaviour across the branch network.
- 02
Location strength
Evaluated each trading location alongside local trade-market conditions and competitor pressure using our Trade Merchant Cluster classification.
- 03
Network segmentation
Combined the evidence to classify branches consistently by role, function and location strength.
Outputs & significance
A practical role for every branch
NETWORK
Network segmentation
Segmented the branch estate using customer, transaction and location characteristics.
Branch role definition
Clarified the role, function and relative trading-location strength of individual branches.
Strategic evidence
Established a consistent basis for network strategy and branch-level decision-making.
Significance
Segmentation gave every branch a clear strategic role
Bringing customer behaviour, product mix, local trade markets and competitive pressure together revealed how each branch contributed to the wider network.