It will
also give a sneak preview of its next
generation suite, which will run on superior .Net technology.
VCSTIMELESS will showcase how a number of multi-channel
retailers are already benefiting from its technology,
including Naf
Naf, Lancel, Induyco, Orchestra childrenswear,
and Sara
Lee Lovable lingerie. The company's integrated
multi-channel suite is dedicated to 'bricks and
mortar' retailers, wholesalers, Internet
retailers,
mail order and franchise networks throughout the
World.
Research reveals strong growth ahead for multichannel
retailing
Internet retailing, in particular over the last
few years, has been growing exponentially at a rate
of about seventy per cent. In 2004, online purchases
made up more than 5% of all retail sales in the
United States in 12 out of 15 retail categories
(up from nine in 2003), according to Forrester Research.
Today in the US, clothes and fashion are already
the second biggest sellers on the Internet, after
books and music. Initially considered a more male
domain,
the Internet is becoming increasingly feminised.
The Internet, and to a certain extent mail order,
is also proving a valuable source of information
and customer loyalty for retailers, with numerous
crossselling and customer relationship advantages.
It provides a medium to gather information, and
technology can make sense of all this - ultimately
to get to know the customer better.
Multiple channels
require multiple needs
Most products are now available via the Internet,
but the channel is immensely competitive, and
not without its headaches. Since the well-publicised
demise of the fashion e-tailer Boo.com a few
years ago, due largely to poor warehouse and
logistics management, multi-channel retailers are having to tread carefully.
Many multi-channel retailers now suffer from a
poor image: problems of stock management; delivery
hold-ups; poor customer service; difficult returns
policies; and dire reverse logistics. The retailers
themselves also have to face up to opening trading
doors to wider markets, sometimes meaning that
customers, or users, are often multi-lingual. While
there are a great many software vendors offering
effective head office solutions for retailers,
very few cater for the multiple needs of multichannel
retailers. The system, either at an international
store, head office, warehouse, franchisee, or wholesaler,
has to be adaptable to multiple languages, multiple
currencies and multiple taxes. The solutions also
need to be completely integrated being able to
consolidate purchasing, replenishment, stock
data,
buying and CRM across all channels.
VCSTIMELESS
Multi-Channel Solutions
The new version of Colombus
Enterprise Suite serves
most European languages, as well as being one
of the only software solutions to cater to Chinese
languages too (a significant step given the obvious
boost to trading with Chinese suppliers after
the recent GAT agreement to remove quotas). Whether
in a store, head office or franchise, access
to pertinent information (like stock availability,
what the customer has tended to buy on previous
visits, and forecasting realistic delivery times),
can have a tremendous impact on sales.
New merchandise
planning capabilities ensure that best-sellers
can be more easily identified and
make sure that a multi-channel retailer doesn't
run out of stock. Easy-to-use analytical functions
also advise on what proportions of stock are required
to best serve various different channels. And inbuilt
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) functions
mean that multi-channel retailers can stay closely
in touch with information about each
customer, whether via the Internet, retail, or
mail order channels.
" In such a competitive retail market today,
when the customer is king and getting more and
more demanding, providing information is the key
to effective customer service and retaining their
loyalty," says Diane Bechard, product director
at VCSTIMELESS. "VCSTIMELESS is one of the
few vendors used to coping with multiple retail
channels, and making sure that everyone can effectively
work from the same hymn sheet. "
|
