Manhattan Associates announces Zero Disappointment Retail

by Nigel Lewis on 2010-06-29

Cross-channel retailing for the anytime, anywhere consumer - to be showcased at Online Retailer Expo, Sydney, 6th-9th July 2010
AUCKLAND – June 22, 2010 – Manhattan Associates (NASDAQ: MANH) today launched Zero Disappointment Retail™ in Australia and New Zealand, a system-enabled approach that allows retailers to deploy advanced supply chain optimisation techniques to present a unified brand across all channels - traditional brick and mortar stores, Internet, catalogue, call centre, television and mobile.

Zero Disappointment Retail relies on a set of software components from the Manhattan SCOPE® (Supply Chain Optimisation-Planning through Execution) solutions portfolio. The technology preserves and complements current systems and investments by aggregating inventory, order, pricing, promotion, merchandising and order execution information across all channels.

“Retailers have a challenge to provide whatever customers are looking for in each channel, including a wide product selection and convenient browse, buy, deliver and return options. If a customer switches channels, a retailer risks losing the sale, as research shows that 50 percent of channel switchers also switch brands,” said Chris Stephenson, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand at Manhattan Associates. “With a truly blended-channel environment, sales and support professionals have all the information they need to give customers what they want and consumers have the selection, convenience and retail options they expect.”
 
Key features of Zero Disappointment Retail:

•    Blended Channel Optimisation <http://www.manh.com/industries/blended_channel_optimization.html>  —  Delivers cross-channel visibility of orders and inventory so retailers are able to respond in real-time to changing demand patterns to ensure the right amount of inventory is directed to each selling channel

•    Exponential Execution <http://www.manh.com/industries/exponential_execution.html>  — Leverages the aggregated, cross-channel view of orders and inventory to manage the fulfilment process more efficiently from supplier to customer—and back again—by integrating supply chain execution activities so merchandise gets to the right person at the right time

Manhattan has partnered with US-based Retail Systems Research (RSR) — to develop the Blended Channel Revenue Modeller, an objective mathematical model, based on retailer experience that quantifies the real impact of cross-channel capabilities on a retailer’s top and bottom line. For example, based on initial Blended Channel Revenue Modeller calculations, a retailer with $1 Billion in revenue across 900 stores could expect to receive up to 5 per cent sales and 7 per cent gross margin improvement from the cross-channel benefits of Zero Disappointment Retail.
 
“The Blended Channel Revenue Modeller objectively demonstrates the business impact of cross-channel capabilities to retailers,” said Nikki Baird, managing partner, RSR. “Without an idea of the scope of opportunity available to retailers pursuing cross-channel processes, it is hard to overcome investment barriers to making a decision, let alone implementing a project successfully. This model helps bridge that information gap.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
 
More information on the Blended Channel Revenue Model
The Blended Channel Revenue Model is outlined in “The Cross-Channel Opportunity,” a new report from RSR that identifies revenue opportunities to drive sales improvements across three process areas: saving the sale, buying online and picking up in-store, and cross-channel inventory management. To use the Blended Channel Revenue Modeller, visit www.manh.com/crosschannelmodel to download the RSR Cross-Channel Business Impact Report, “The Cross-Channel Opportunity” and receive the analysis tool.

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About Retail Systems Research (RSR)
Retail Systems Research was founded by Brian Kilcourse, Paula Rosenblum, Nikki Baird and Steve Rowen, long time retail industry observers and practitioners.  RSR provides: insight into business and technology challenges facing the retail industry ecosystem and thought leadership and advice on navigating these challenges for specific companies and the industry at large.

About Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Manhattan Associates continues to deliver on its 20-year heritage of providing global supply chain excellence to more than 1,200 customers worldwide that consider supply chain optimisation core to their strategic market leadership. The company's supply chain innovations include: Manhattan SCOPE® a portfolio of software solutions and technology that leverages a Supply Chain Process Platform to help organizations optimise their supply chains from planning through execution; Manhattan SCALE™, a portfolio of distribution management and transportation management solutions built on Microsoft .NET technology; and Manhattan Carrier™, a suite of supply chain solutions specifically addressing the needs of the motor carrier industry. For more information, please visit www.manh.com