For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

Case Study: Hunter Douglas Europe Grows Via Distributed Content Management Platform

ChannelNet Solution Improves Network Of Web Sites For Local Dealers

by Chad Mitchell, November 16, 2009

Hunter Douglas, a leading manufacturer of window coverings and architectural products, distributes its products through thousands of local dealers. Hunter Douglas saw an expanding online consumer retail market in Europe and wanted to use eBusiness to . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Use Master Scheduling To Drive Service Levels

How Consumer Goods Value Chains Can Retain Customers Through A Recession

by George Lawrie, January 28, 2009

Empty shelves are a significant threat to brands and retailers as the economy sinks into a recession, and consumers may be tempted to buy cheaper merchandise or shop elsewhere. Yet, service levels on retailers' shelves have obstinately remained at the . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Improving Retail Promotion Execution

by George Lawrie, December 19, 2007

Retailers continue to struggle with promotion execution and face hefty financial consequences, including skyrocketing administrative costs, misspent funds, and sales cannibalization. To help, an increasing number are investing in RFID, business intelligence . . .

The State Of Manufacturer And Retailer Collaboration 2006

A Shared Strategy Study Conducted With Consumer Goods Technology And RIS News

by Nikki Baird, December 19, 2006

Increasingly, manufacturers and retailers must compete in a dynamic collaborative environment in which today's collaborator is tomorrow's competitor. To benchmark the state of industry collaboration, Forrester partnered with Consumer Goods Technology . . .

How IT Leadership Shapes Manufacturer And Retailer Collaboration

by Christine Spivey Overby, February 28, 2006

In the consumer products industry, the CIO reporting relationship substantially affects collaboration with retailers and related technology initiatives. Firms use collaboration technologies to support top-line growth when CIOs report to CEOs; conversely, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Network Process Control: The Next Generation In Supply Chain Solutions

Why Traditional Apps, Visibility, And Collaboration Tools Are Inadequate

by Noha Tohamy, January 6, 2006

Many supply chain processes that used to be managed within the enterprise now span dozens of global trading partners, each focused on a set of specialized areas. This shift toward network-centric processes has nullified many of the assumptions used in . . .

Trends 2006: Consumer Products

CP Manufacturers Must Use Technology To Reinvent Basic Business Practices

by Christine Spivey Overby, December 1, 2005

Sobering realities like high materials costs, a consumer ad backlash, and more powerful retailers make it difficult for consumer products (CP) manufacturers to grow revenues and profits. Manufacturers will only break the cycle with innovative new strategies . . .

The State Of Manufacturer And Retailer Collaboration

A Shared Strategy Study With Consumer Goods Technology And RIS News

by Christine Spivey Overby, November 21, 2005

New technologies are allowing consumer products (CP) manufacturers and retailers to work together more extensively. To benchmark the state of industry collaboration, Forrester partnered with Consumer Goods Technology and RIS News. The resulting data and . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

VeriSign Takes On Supply Chain Collaboration

VeriSign Acquires Retail Solutions And Partners With WWRE

by Christine Spivey Overby, October 31, 2005

Last week, VeriSign announced the acquisition of Retail Solutions for $24 million, and a partnership with the WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE). With this one-two punch, VeriSign establishes itself as a low-cost alternative for point-of-sale (POS) visibility, . . .

Key Data Pools Consolidate: It's About Time!

The Transora/UCCnet And WWRE/GNX Mergers Simplify Collaboration — A Bit

by Christine Spivey Overby, July 13, 2005

Two upcoming mergers — Transora/UCCnet and WorldWide Retail Exchange/GlobalNetXchange — focus on jump-starting the global data synchronization and supply chain collaboration efforts that have been slowed by market fragmentation. Forrester believes that . . .

How RFID Improves The Order-To-Cash Process

RFID Improves Shipping And Order Capture But Not Order Routing And Picking

by Christine Spivey Overby, May 27, 2005

Without focusing RFID efforts on specific business processes, RFID adopters will fail to capture benefits and determine a manageable deployment road map. Forrester broke down a common process, order-to-cash, to uncover when RFID data significantly improves . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Adaptive Trading Networks

A New Trading Structure Will Boost Firms' Global Supply Chain Adaptability

by Noha Tohamy, April 21, 2005

With the increase in global trading volume and complexity, firms look to their incumbent service providers to assist them in their quest for global adaptability. But their success hinges on the emergence of a new global trading market structure called . . .

The Price Of Point-Of-Sale Customer Data

How Brands And Retailers Can Share Consumer Data For Mutual Gain

by Fiona McDonnell, April 1, 2005

The fight between retailers and manufacturers has expanded to the use of data. Both parties would fare better if they settled on a price between 1% and 5% of the brand owner's net revenues. At the negotiation table, factors like retailer exclusivity and . . .

Consumer-Focused Innovation

Deeper Consumer Insights Will Reshape The Consumer Products Industry

by Christine Spivey Overby, March 16, 2005

Seismic consumer trends related to price, loyalty, brand awareness, and emerging markets are threatening the revenue and margin growth of consumer products (CP) companies. But today, CP firms do not have the optimal processes or technologies to convert . . .

Channel Cooperation Pays Off

by Stephen K. Zrike, Lisa Allen, Kristofer Hamel, Jessica Sommer, Gregory N. Flemming, Ph.D., May 14, 2001

Channel conflict is crumbling but not enough. To snare almost $300 billion in 2005, manufacturers and retailers will create collaboratives to synchronize their marketing, operations, and sales efforts and to serve customers.