Content about Information technology management

May 8, 2013

Sporting goods retailer Modell’s is launching Micros-Retail’s Xstore Point-of-Service, Relate Customer Relationship Management and miStore mobile POS solutions.

Westborough, Mass. -- Sporting goods retailer Modell’s is launching Micros-Retail’s Xstore Point-of-Service, Relate Customer Relationship Management and miStore mobile POS solutions. Modell’s says it intends to transform the customer experience, modernize IT for the stores, reduce training time for IT staff, and streamline day-to-day functions, as well as use miStore to provide quicker customer service with more detailed product information.

May 7, 2013

Go offline, young man: That appears to be the mantra of e-commerce merchants these days.

As competition in the world of online retailing heats up — with Amazon's ever-burgeoning dominance posing the biggest threat — more pure-players are taking the brick-and-mortar plunge. It's a reminder, many experts say, of the strong appeal of the in-store experience — even when stacked up against the convenience of online shopping.

May 7, 2013

Here are several pure-play online retailers that are venturing into the physical space — or thinking about making the leap:

Rent the Runway, which rents high-end designer gowns, dresses and accessories to women for weddings and other special events, will use a recent infusion of $24.4 million in financing to build showrooms where shoppers can try on the frocks and consult with stylists. The popular online destination reportedly has Chicago next on its agenda.

April 1, 2013

Talend said Monday that The Container Store is deploying Talend Enterprise Data Integration to simplify, standardize and move data across multiple platforms.

Los Altos, Calif. -- Talend said Monday that The Container Store is deploying Talend Enterprise Data Integration to simplify, standardize and move data across multiple platforms.

With Talend, The Container Store now has cross-platform standardization, improved development times and automated processes that were previously done manually.

March 7, 2013

More than half (53%) of industry leaders believe that improving customers’ retail experience is essential to creating a successful mobile payments scheme, according to a recent survey by SAP.

New York -- More than half (53%) of industry leaders believe that improving customers’ retail experience is essential to creating a successful mobile payments scheme, according to a recent survey by SAP.

The study, SAP’s third consecutive GSMA Mobile World Congress survey, found that the “secret sauce” for creating a better retail experience includes POS services such as near-field communication (28%), facilitating universal acceptance of mobile payments (25%) and location-based point-of-sale offerings (24%).

February 21, 2013

Managing and classifying enterprise data is the number one security and privacy area in need of improvement, and remains a major challenge for IT departments, according to a survey about IT risk factors for 2013 published by global consulting firm Protiviti.

Menlo Park, Calif. -- Managing and classifying enterprise data is the number one security and privacy area in need of improvement, and remains a major challenge for IT departments, according to a survey about IT risk factors for 2013 published by global consulting firm Protiviti.

The 2013 IT Priorities Survey found that IT executives are struggling to manage the wide variety of technology risk, regulatory compliance and performance challenges that now face them.

February 12, 2013

A report released by First Data Corp. found that dollar volume growth rebounded in January, improving to 6.2% versus 4% in December despite the payroll tax increase.

Atlanta -- A report released Tuesday by First Data Corp. found that dollar volume growth rebounded in January, improving to 6.2% versus 4% in December despite the payroll tax increase.

The First Data SpendTrend report, which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations, found that improved retail spending was a large contributor to the January growth.   

February 4, 2013

Oracle Corp. said it has agreed to buy Acme Packet for $29.25 per share or approximately $1.7 billion, net of Acme Packet’s cash.

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- Oracle Corp. said on Monday it has agreed to buy Acme Packet for $29.25 per share or approximately $1.7 billion, net of Acme Packet’s cash.
 
Acme Packet, which is based in Bedford, Mass., makes networking equipment that allows customers to deliver voice, video and data across Internet networks for tasks such as video conferencing.
 

January 14, 2013

SAP AG announced that Crocs Inc. is implementing the SAP Apparel and Footwear application to replace a legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

New York -- SAP AG on Monday announced that Crocs Inc. is implementing the SAP Apparel and Footwear application to replace a legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Implementation is already underway and will help give Crocs complete control of its global supply chain — from procuring raw materials to delivering finished styles across the globe.

December 27, 2012

By Chris Donnelly, managing director, Accenture Retail

Ahead of the holidays, 56% of U.S. consumers told us that they expected to ‘showroom’ as they bought gifts this year — underlining the threat of online pure play retailers to the success, and even existence, of traditional retailers. However, traditional retailers can compete and even win this battle.

December 19, 2012

Epicor Software Corp. said that A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts has selected and implemented the company’s Retail Customer Relationship Management solution to strengthen customer relations and support future loyalty/reward initiatives.

Dublin, Calif. -- Epicor Software Corp. said Wednesday that A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts has selected and implemented the company’s Retail Customer Relationship Management solution to strengthen customer relations and support future loyalty/reward initiatives.

December 19, 2012

Product lifecycle management software provider Centric Software said that it has become the PLM system provider to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Campbell, Calif. -- Product lifecycle management software provider Centric Software said Tuesday that it has become the PLM system provider to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Build-A-Bear Workshop purchased the Product Specification, Product Sourcing, Calendar Management, Line Planning, Quality Management and Material Management modules of the Centric 8 PLM system. Build-A-Bear Workshop also will implement Centric’s mobile apps and the Enterprise Connectivity module to integrate Centric 8 data with the company’s enterprise resource planning system.

November 13, 2012

Survey results released by PriceGrabber found that 71% of consumers believe that retailers offer better deals during Thanksgiving weekend than they do during the rest of the winter holiday shopping season, up from 58% in 2011.

Los Angeles -- Survey results released Tuesday by PriceGrabber found that 71% of consumers believe that retailers offer better deals during Thanksgiving weekend than they do during the rest of the winter holiday shopping season, up from 58% in 2011.

When consumers who indicated that the best deals can be found over the Thanksgiving weekend were asked which days retailers offer the best prices, 71% said Black Friday (Nov. 23), down from 80% in 2011 and 86% in 2010, and 41% said Cyber Monday (Nov. 26), up from 37% last year and 33% in 2010.

November 9, 2012

PTC announced that Brooks Brothers Group Inc. has chosen PTC Windchill FlexPLM software, PTC's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution for retail, to improve product design and development effectiveness, reduce costs and better capture market opportunities.

New York -- PTC announced that Brooks Brothers Group Inc. has chosen PTC Windchill FlexPLM software, PTC's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution for retail, to improve product design and development effectiveness, reduce costs and better capture market opportunities.

October 23, 2012

As part of a larger initiative to upgrade the customer experience and localize offerings in its 640 stores nationwide.

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- As part of a larger initiative to upgrade the customer experience and localize offerings in its 640 stores nationwide. The Finish Line will roll out new Oracle Retail merchandising, planning, stores and CRM solutions. The athletic-goods retailer is leveraging Oracle’s cloud computing services in the process.

The Finish Line will use the integrated retail systems to tailor offerings to customer and regional preferences.  

October 22, 2012

Analytic data solution-provider Teradata said that Takashimaya Co. has completed deployment of a Teradata data warehousing environment to serve as the primary data analytics system for centrally housing and managing its product and customer information.

Tokyo -- Analytic data solution-provider Teradata said Monday that Takashimaya Co. has completed deployment of a Teradata data warehousing environment to serve as the primary data analytics system for centrally housing and managing its product and customer information.

Takashimaya is one of the world's largest chains of department stores, and is the nucleus of the Takashimaya Group worldwide.

October 19, 2012

Teradata, the analytic data solutions company, announced that Sears Holdings has upgrades its existing Teradata analytic environment with the Teradata Active Enterprise Data Warehouse Platform 6690, which leverages both SSD and HDD storage.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Teradata, the analytic data solutions company, announced that Sears Holdings has upgrades its existing Teradata analytic environment with the Teradata Active Enterprise Data Warehouse Platform 6690, which leverages both SSD and HDD storage.

Sears has also added the new Teradata ADW Private Cloud with Elastic Performance on Demand for on-demand business analytics.

October 17, 2012

Epicor Software Corp., a leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations, announced the company has again been named the leading vendor of point-of-sale software for both specialty soft goods retailers and hard goods retailers by research and advisory firm IHL Group.

Dublin, Calif. -- Epicor Software Corp., a leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations, announced the company has again been named the leading vendor of point-of-sale software for both specialty soft goods retailers and hard goods retailers by research and advisory firm IHL Group. This marks the second consecutive year that Epicor has been ranked the No. 1 vendor overall in both studies.

September 26, 2012

By Sean Jackson, Actian

By Sean Jackson, Sean.Jackson@actian.com

In recent weeks, there have been some well-publicised examples of retail giants whose financial performance has been severely impacted by breakdowns in the supply chain. As salt in the wound to these behemoths of retail, there are just as many examples of organizations that have exceeded market expectations due to an ability to behave nimbly and respond quickly to changes in consumer demand.

September 21, 2012

The e-commerce experience has expanded beyond desktop environments and moved in-store via Web-based kiosks and consumers’ personal mobile devices. One of the biggest hurdles for retailers is delivering a consistent, rich, user experience across all digital channels. Eager to overcome this challenge, Best Buy Canada sought a solution to streamline digital information delivery.

September 12, 2012

irst Data Corp. reported that consumers responded well to back-to-school and summer clearance sales in August, prompting an increase in August same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

Atlanta -- First Data Corp. reported Wednesday that consumers responded well to back-to-school and summer clearance sales in August, prompting an increase in August same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.

September 11, 2012

Junction Solutions announced that Renys, which operates 16 discount stores in Maine, has selected Junction Solutions to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and help launch its multichannel retail strategy, while automating manual processes and improving visibility and collaboration throughout its store locations.

Denver -- Junction Solutions announced that Renys, which operates 16 discount stores in Maine, has selected Junction Solutions to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and help launch its multichannel retail strategy, while automating manual processes and improving visibility and collaboration throughout its store locations.

August 3, 2012

Receive recognition for new store and renovation projects! The 31st annual Chain Store Age Retail Store of the Year Awards will celebrate the best in retail and restaurant design for projects opened between November 30, 2011 and December 30, 2012.

All winning projects will be featured in the March 2013 issue of Chain Store Age, and also presented at Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS conference, March 17-20, 2013, in Dallas.

July 30, 2012

OrderMotion, a web-based platform for direct-to-consumer (D2C) campaign and order management, announced that Midwest consumer goods retailer Alco Stores selected OrderMotion's OMX platform as the back-office technology best suited to grow with its online volume demands while also leveraging its Magento eCommerce front-end system.

Burlington, Mass. -- OrderMotion, a web-based platform for direct-to-consumer (D2C) campaign and order management, announced that Midwest consumer goods retailer Alco Stores selected OrderMotion's OMX platform as the back-office technology best suited to grow with its online volume demands while also leveraging its Magento eCommerce front-end system.

July 25, 2012

American Apparel said it has launched three new merchant stores on Amazon Marketplace in the U.K., Germany and Japan.

Los Angeles -- American Apparel said Wednesday it has launched three new merchant stores on Amazon Marketplace in the U.K., Germany and Japan.
 
The three new stores follow American Apparel's U.S. deal with Amazon, which launched in 2010.
 
Orders will be processed and shipped from American Apparel's headquarters in downtown Los Angeles and returns will be accepted and processed locally by the company’s offices in those countries.