In recent years, a convergence of macro economic and structural trends created new pressures and new opportunities for retailers. Barriers to global trade have tumbled. Tectonic shifts in demographics have created an aging population in North America and Europe and a rising middle class in other parts of the world. Dramatic geopolitical events dominate headlines on a daily basis.
These trends create opportunities for market expansion and cost advantages through the application of global sourcing strategies, but they also create unpredictable consumer spending patterns and a complex supply chain that is difficult and costly to manage.
Designed to overcome these challenges, i2 Retail Management provides the framework to drive results. It is a comprehensive methodology comprised of i2’s domain expertise, solutions, and service offerings that enable companies to create, evaluate, synchronize, review, and publish all plans across an enterprise.
“I am delighted to have i2 as part of a team responsible for building exciting and innovative solutions that will propel Payless ShoeSource into a leadership position in the retail industry.”
— Darrel Pavelka,Senior Vice President
Merchandising, Distribution, Planning and Supply Chain
Merchandise Financial Planning
As the retail industry evolves to adopt the latest technological advances to meet the needs of increasingly fickle consumers, and to manage economic fluctuations, marketplace competition has reached new heights. Traditional strategies for establishing differentiation and creating growth have become ineffective. This environment demands that retailers take a new approach to profitably synchronize inventory and space while meeting complex customer demands. Success requires an easy-to-execute, closed-loop advanced planning process that enables retailers to realize sales and inventory improvements while delivering a superior shopping experience to customers. Learn more »»
Buying and Assortment Management
The retail industry is in the midst of a profound transition. Channel blurring, price deflation, declining loyalty, and hyper-competition define the environment. Retailers must adhere to customer-centric strategies to protect and grow market share. Such strategies demand unprecedented precision, speed, and coordination in anticipating customer needs—down to the store level. Success in executing customer-centric merchandising strategies requires a new-generation approach to buying and assortment management. Learn more »»
Allocation and Replenishment Management
Today’s consumers have unprecedented shopping options. Now more than ever, retailers must differentiate by providing a superior shopping experience. Whether customers walk away satisfied—or have to look elsewhere to make their purchases—hinges directly on a retailer’s in-stock positions.
But while having the right product in the right place at the right time remains undeniably critical, Wall Street demands superior inventory productivity. Traditional approaches to allocation and replenishment are no longer adequate to meet the requirements of the modern retail landscape. A new-generation allocation and replenishment management solution is necessary for retailers to meet increasing expectations for in-stock levels and inventory productivity.
Cycle Time Optimization
Cycle Time Optimization is designed to reduce concept–to-store cycle time. The solution can create capacity constrained product plans to synchronize with in-store assortment plans, pre-position key raw materials and optimize inventory (finished and raw material) throughout the value chain, and reduce distribution and handling costs. The entire value chain is connected through the cycle time optimization solution using an integrated retail and supply chain planning process.
Multiple legacy systems from numerous acquisitions left Dana Corporation with a slow, fragmented procurement process. Embarking on a value chain management initiative using i2 solutions, Dana has achieved forward visibility into its value chain, and is reacting to time-to-market with exceptional speed.
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