Product category:
Supply chain planning and execution software
News Release from: i2 Technologies | Subject: Demand planning software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 October 2004
Argos goes live with I2 demand planner
A multi-channel retailer improves product availability, as Argos is now live with I2 Demand Planner.
Argos reports that this go-live can enable the company to forecast demand for more than 10,000 product items and allow product availability for customers using its catalogues, online storefront and over 560 shops in the UK and Ireland "With strong competition both on the street and from the Internet, there is a great deal of pressure on retailers to keep prices low, while still offering a wide range of products in stock," said Caroline Bell, supply chain programme manager for integrated planning, Argos
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 8 Oct 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"We need to be sharp at predicting what customers want and make sure that we supply it in the right volumes.
At the same time, we need to do this in the quickest and most efficient way possible, to help deliver lower prices for our customers.
It is our goal to improve our product availability and reduce costs and we will be working on using Demand Planner to support this by improving our forecasting." I2 Demand Planner is designed to help companies more accurately model and predict customer demand.
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It can be tailored to the forecasting needs of different product categories to address fast and slow moving items, seasonal and promotional lines and it will also highlight exceptions, where actual sales differ from the forecast.
"An exception-based approach will enable us to make adjustments to our forecasts so that we do not over-stock or under-stock, and disappoint our customers," explains Bell.
"In today's volatile consumer market, it is essential for retailers to focus on providing exemplary customer service, breadth of choice and outstanding value.
Powerful forecasting tools can make a significant contribution to these aims as well as improve costs and efficiency for the retailer," said Lee Gill, Vice President, Retail, I2."This is the company's second implementation of I2 software.
We look forward to seeing tangible benefits and business improvements particularly in product availability and levels of inventory.
We are proud to be associated with Argos and we continue to invest in further strengthening our relationship with this highly successful retailer." Argos also leverages I2 Merchandise Planner for its operational sales and stock planning processes, as well as for planning its catalogue and promotional activities.
The solution, which has been developed for retailers by I2, helps companies plan their product assortments, pricing and store allocations.
I2 retail solutions include a range of modular and flexible solutions covering merchandise planning, replenishment planning and execution, price and revenue optimisation and end-to-end transportation, planning and execution.
Founded in 1973, Argos is the UK's leading general merchandise retailer with sales of more than ?3 billion (US$5.5 billion).
Owned by GUS plc and part of the Argos Retail Group, Argos has more than 560 stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as distribution centres, call centres and a head office in Milton Keynes, England.
Argos employs more than 23,000 people and is a leading player in many markets including consumer electronics, furniture, jewellery and sports equipment.
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