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ICICI Infotech launches product tracking for apparel industry

E-Tex Staff - Mumbai

ICICI Infotech Inc, a global technology solutions company, has launched Product Tracking, a web-based event management solution offering real-time information on every step in the global supply chain. Integrated with existing systems, the solution tracks the status of each stage, from development to shipment and delivery, reducing costs and production cycle times.

The latest module to be developed for Product Tracking is scanning and packing for easy online packing list creation. This enables factories to apply industry-standard UCC128 labels to shipping cartons, scan the labels with a handheld scanner, and generate an online packing list for real-time access. Real-time visibility also allows for pre-allocation of in-bound shipments before they arrive in the warehouse.

“Manufacturers need to act fast to meet demands and react to new trends. At ICICI Infotech we have designed applications specifically for the apparel industry, that can provide the level of detail required in real-time,” said Mr Vincent Candela, vice president of Fashion Technology at ICICI Infotech. “While our solutions manage production and development through the entire supply chain, they are also very visual to suit our end users within fashion, for increased usability and productivity.”

One of the first customers to implement the Product Tracking system with the new scanning and packing module is Weathervane, a specialty clothing retailer for teenage girls. “Bringing products to market is a long and complex process in fashion, but with accurate status information at each stage of the production cycle, manufacturers are better placed to respond, and therefore save time and money,” said Mr V Srinivasan, managing director and CEO of ICICI Infotech Inc. “We have designed the Product Tracking system for the apparel supply chain with these unique needs in mind. It is part of ICICI Infotech’s strategy to develop industry-specific solutions to deliver better value.”

Today’s retail environment

Today’s retail environment is more challenging than ever. Your customers expect top-notch products and services that are tailored to their needs. They demand convenience, quality and anytime, anywhere access to products. At the same time, meeting the needs of your customers has never been more difficult. Globalisation has led to heightened competitive pressures and decreasing profit margins. Customers are more aware of their options than ever before.

In order to compete in this retail environment, you need a system that can help you:

• Understand and fulfill customer demand in real-time
• Increase efficiencies by automating and streamlining your end-to-end operations
• Increase loyalty from existing customers and reduce the cost of acquiring new ones
• Make informed merchandising, stocking and logistics decisions that are based on analysis of data across your retail store locations
• Integrates and centralises customer, sales and merchandising information across multiple channels and locations

Orion for the retail industry

Orion is an ERP II solution that can help you address these needs and get you on the path to increased profits. With Orion, you can experience the benefits of a full end-to-end system that integrates business processes across your organisation, from supply chain and payroll management to customer relationship and retail store management.

Retail customers that have implemented Orion have realised benefits such as:

• Improved visibility and fulfillment of real-time customer demand
• Streamlined operations and elimination of duplicate data entry
• Increased customer loyalty from innovative loyalty programs that are tailored to meet the needs of individual customer segments
• Improved demand forecasting and merchandising based on analysis of retail operations across multiple locations
• Increased productivity for sales people and distributors in the field due to wireless access to critical data
• Fully integrated back office, merchandising and point-of-sale operations.

Customer Relationship Management

Orion’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module empowers you to better understand your customers’ needs and enables you to create discount schemes and promotions designed to boost loyalty in targeted customers segments.

Features:

• Capture and track customers’ buying habits
• Create promotions based on criteria such as region & customer segment
• Create discount schemes based on criteria such as item group & outlet
• Create retail outlet specific pricing and access it at the point-of-sale Benefits:
• Improve inventory forecasting abilities. Ensure retail outlets are stocked with right items at the right times
• Enhance customer relationships. Improve promotional effectiveness by comparing promotional results
• Improve the bottom line by managing seasonal fluctuation in sales and pushing out slow moving stock
• Meet local pricing pressures by creating and implementing retail outlet specific price lists.

Point-of-Sale

Orion’s Point-of-Sale (POS) module enables you to provide customers with ultimate flexibility when it matters most, at the point-of-sale. Integration with existing POS systems and centralisation of data from all retail outlets improves efficiency across your operations.

Features:

• Multiple payment forms, including cash and credit card
• Integration to POS software and hardware accessories, such as barcode readers
• Create outlet specific coupons and gift vouchers
• Effective shift handling and day-end closing

Benefits:

• Provide customers with flexibility at the point-of-sale. Prevent loss of sales due to rigid payment methods
• Improve checkout speeds and reduce duplicate data entry. Improve visibility into customer demand
• Retain and reward loyal customers based on outlet specific buying history * Reduce errors and complications in shift records and day-end closings

Supply Chain Management

Orion’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) module enables you to streamline and integrate your supply chain with point-of-sale and customer information. Orion SCM enables you to improve demand forecasting and meet fluctuating customer demand.

Features:

• Global view of stock across all locations
• Centralised procurement and decentralised distribution of goods
• Capture sales trends by item group, type and individual product codes
• Forecast demand for goods based on criteria such as time and region Benefits:
• Prevent excess stocking of goods and loss of sales due to limited visibility into availability of goods
• Streamline logistics processes by cutting down on interstore location transfers
• Understand sales patterns by product group. Increase accuracy of stock replenishment planning
• Proactively plan and forecast demand rather than reactively replenishing stock.

ICICI Infotech is an Information Technology company promoted by ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank. Headquartered in India’s financial capital Mumbai, and powered by a multicultural team of more than 1400 technical and function specialists located across the globe, the company has today established physical presence in USA, UK, Germany, Middle East, India, Singapore, Malyasia and Australia.

State-of-the-art software development infrastructure in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and New Jersey complement its worldwide offices in supporting delivery to its ever-expanding clientele.

ICICI Infotech’s core competence lies in its:

• Large pool of professionals with strong domain knowledge of the banking, insurance, manufacturing, distribution, retail and contracting verticals, enabling the Company to understand and translate business requirements of its customers into IT solutions.
• Quality orientation - The company’s software processes are assessed at SEI-CMM level 3 and in addition its infrastructure and business process outsourcing activities are ISO 9001:2000 accredited.

ICICI Infotech’s service & product offerings include:

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS

• Software Development & Consulting: Software development on internet based and other traditional technologies, system integration services, application software maintenance support and enhancements, data-warehousing - design, development and implementation, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), IT Strategy and Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) consulting.
• Security consulting and solutions: Enterprise Security Consulting, Information Systems Audit, Network Security, Disaster Recovery Planning and Training Services.
• IT infrastructure services : Network consulting, design, planning and implementation; system configuration, hardware sizing and tuning; data centre design and management; storage solutions and database management.

PRODUCTS

• ERP-II solutions Orion, Excaliber, Merlin, Crossroads: ERP-II solutions for the large, medium and small segments, which include SCM and CRM features. Specially verticalised for industry groups such as manufacturing, contracting, retail and distribution and further specialised for different industries like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, cement, sugar, auto-ancillaries, food, etc.
• Insurance product - Premia: An integrated insurance management system which supports all major classes of business including fire, general accident, engineering, marine cargo and hull, aviation, auto, life and medical.
• Banking product suite - Vertical B: A suite of specialised financial application products for the banking and financial services sector covering core banking, treasury management, asset-liability management, risk management, factoring and retail lending.