Blue Yonder Case Studies Allocating in Style

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	Allocating in Style Blue Yonder

Allocating in Style

Blue Yonder

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Applicable Industries	Retail
Use Cases	Inventory Management
Challenge	South African retailer Ackermans, with over 450 stores, was facing challenges in accurately allocating merchandise across its stores. The process was labor-intensive and resulted in missed sales opportunities at the individual store level. The allocation was not based on actual shopper needs, leading to stock being sent to the wrong locations or not being sent at all. Ackermans was already using JDA Enterprise Planning to manage its strategic, merchandising, and location plans, but needed a solution to improve efficiency and productivity in allocation. Read More
About Customer	Ackermans is a South African retailer with over 450 stores. The company offers a range of attractive, stylish merchandise. However, it was facing challenges in accurately allocating merchandise across its stores due to a labor-intensive process. The allocation was not based on actual shopper needs, leading to stock being sent to the wrong locations or not being sent at all. Ackermans was already using JDA Enterprise Planning to manage its strategic, merchandising, and location plans, but needed a solution to improve efficiency and productivity in allocation. Read More
Solution	Ackermans implemented JDA Allocation to automate the merchandise planning process and ensure the right level of stock in each store. The focus of the implementation was to add the 'consumer need' variable to drive the allocation calculation. The implementation was completed in about three months. The use of JDA Allocation has resulted in significant efficiency and productivity gains. The time taken to do an allocation per item has been reduced, and planners are now able to plan about twice as many items as before. The solution has also increased confidence that the right products are being sent to the right stores by targeting local consumer demand and matching specific products to that demand. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems

Applicable Industries

Retail

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Challenge

South African retailer Ackermans, with over 450 stores, was facing challenges in accurately allocating merchandise across its stores. The process was labor-intensive and resulted in missed sales opportunities at the individual store level. The allocation was not based on actual shopper needs, leading to stock being sent to the wrong locations or not being sent at all. Ackermans was already using JDA Enterprise Planning to manage its strategic, merchandising, and location plans, but needed a solution to improve efficiency and productivity in allocation.

About Customer

Ackermans is a South African retailer with over 450 stores. The company offers a range of attractive, stylish merchandise. However, it was facing challenges in accurately allocating merchandise across its stores due to a labor-intensive process. The allocation was not based on actual shopper needs, leading to stock being sent to the wrong locations or not being sent at all. Ackermans was already using JDA Enterprise Planning to manage its strategic, merchandising, and location plans, but needed a solution to improve efficiency and productivity in allocation.

Solution

Ackermans implemented JDA Allocation to automate the merchandise planning process and ensure the right level of stock in each store. The focus of the implementation was to add the 'consumer need' variable to drive the allocation calculation. The implementation was completed in about three months. The use of JDA Allocation has resulted in significant efficiency and productivity gains. The time taken to do an allocation per item has been reduced, and planners are now able to plan about twice as many items as before. The solution has also increased confidence that the right products are being sent to the right stores by targeting local consumer demand and matching specific products to that demand.

Impact #1	Increased planning productivity, resulting in improved store-level assortments.
Impact #2	Reduced overall business processes from two days to one hour.
Impact #3	Substantially decreased planning costs.

Impact #1

Increased planning productivity, resulting in improved store-level assortments.

Impact #2

Reduced overall business processes from two days to one hour.

Impact #3

Substantially decreased planning costs.

Benefit #1	Planning productivity doubled due to the ease of use of the new system.
Benefit #2	Business processes reduced from two days to one hour.
Benefit #3	Significant reduction in planning costs.

Benefit #1

Planning productivity doubled due to the ease of use of the new system.

Benefit #2

Business processes reduced from two days to one hour.

Benefit #3

Significant reduction in planning costs.

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Overview

Allocating in Style

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit