The invention is a method and device for reducing bundles (2) being conveyed in a transport direction (TR) in n rows (3) to a smaller number of continuing transport rows, in particular to (n−1) or (n−2) or (n−3) continuing transport rows (3-1, 3-3). A space (8) is formed at least between the individual bundles (2) of at least one incoming and continuing transport row (3-1, 3-3). The size of the space (8) corresponds to at least the value of a longitudinal extent of an individual article or of an individual group (2) in transport direction (TR). At least two bundles (2) of the at least one row (3-2) are transferred simultaneously by a gripper (10) into a number of consecutive spaces (8) between bundles (2) of a continuing transport row (3-1, 3-3) adjacent to the row (3-2).