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Macys.com Improves Financial Reports

Since Macys.com fulfills customer orders from warehouses, not from stores, the channel’s assortment-planning efforts are very different than the brand’s bricks-and-mortar channel.

By adding a comprehensive software suite, Macys.com is consolidating and customizing its merchandising- and financial-reporting operations to make better assortment decisions.

“There’s a lot of useful data within Federated, and we needed a suite of tools to model the data so it fit within the unique Macys.com business model,” said Kent Anderson, president of Macys.com, a division of Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores.

Although the division considered many options, the company chose Marketmax Financial Planning, Marketmax Performance Analysis, Marketmax Assortment Planning, SAS Financial Management and SAS Enterprise BI Server, all provided by SAS, Cary, N.C.

“One of the things we liked most is SAS combines merchandising and assortment modules with financial modules,” Anderson said. “This allows us to consolidate our processes.”

By integrating the solutions within Macys.com’s legacy systems, the division will gain one data stream. “This will lead to increased productivity for my team and individual SKUs,” he added. “We expect to see results within the first year after implementation.” The suite will be live by the first quarter of 2007.

Wawa Manages Inventory With Wireless Solution

With more than 550 stores operating across the mid-Atlantic region, Wawa found it challenging to gain insight into inventory available across its enterprise. By adding a wireless handheld data-collection solution, the convenience store chain is primed to make more informed decisions around inventory, item replenishment and order fulfillment.

By implementing a wireless-data-collection solution from supply chain execution solution provider Catalyst International, Milwaukee, the chain is able to leverage its existing core ERP system from SAP, Newtown Square, Pa., and migrate off of a legacy store-inventory solution.

The handheld solution is programmed with more than a dozen wireless-enabled transactions tailored for Wawa’s inventory-management needs. By linking the mobile solution to the retailer’s SAPConsole solution (an application that connects data collected by barcode scanners directly to the ERP system), Wawa users gain access to real-time inventory data.

“Performing critical inventory transactions on an easy-to-use handheld device makes this an invaluable tool for our store associates,” said Michael Kinzly, Wawa project director.

Since integrating the system in September, more than 16,000 Wawa associates across five states have gained access to key operational metrics that enable them to make more informed decisions, according to Catalyst.

Stride Rite Automates Supply Chain Processes

Eager to eliminate the manual processes that encompass its physical and financial supply chains, Stride Rite is adding a platform that promises to automate its supply chain processes. This will increase the chain’s merchandise visibility and reduce stockouts, excess inventory, late shipments, missed deliveries and retailer chargebacks.

Manual processes often cause “unexpected surprises in the supply chain,” said Jim Luks, VP of finance and corporate controller at the children’s footwear retailer.

By adding two solutions from TradeCard, New York City, Stride Rite is positioned to eliminate manual processes and gain more control of its supply chain.

First, the retailer is integrating the TradeCard Platform into its financial services. As the solution combines Stride Rite’s supply chain platforms onto a single foundation, it will automate transactions from purchase order through payment.

The addition of SourceView will enable Stride Rite to merge physical and financial aspects of the supply chain. Besides making purchase orders and fulfillment visible within its own supply chain, SourceView will extend Stride Rite’s enterprise visibility to overseas factory floors in Asia, Europe, Latin and South America, and Vietnam. This will enable the retailer to manage chargebacks, track work in progress and implement vendor score carding.

“As a result, both solutions will enable us to reduce costs, optimize cash and drive growth overseas,” Luks said, adding that both solutions will be live by the first quarter of 2007.