Eight out of 10 consumers expect to receive regular updates about the status of their orders, according to a new survey from YouGov and the Infor GT Nexus Commerce Network. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, Matt Gunn and Greg Kefer dive into the data and discuss why supply chain visibility is more important than ever.
Topics: Fashion & Retail, PLM, Fashion & Apparel, Supply Chain Network
Even successful suppliers, who have some of the world’s leading brands as clients, face challenges in having enough working capital to cover the cost of their operations. Unico Global Inc. is a major outdoor apparel producer that had to navigate the tricky business of accepting its buyers’ extended payment terms while also maintaining enough working capital to operate effectively.
Topics: Fashion & Retail, PLM, Fashion & Apparel
It used to be there were just two seasons in the fashion calendar. Then it was four. And now, well, some brands seem to introduce a new collection each week.
Why? Because consumers are highly connected, draw inspiration from a world of influencers and media, and are hungry for new products, more variety, greater customization, and the ability to make purchases whenever and wherever they want. It’s placed the fashion industry under constant pressure to produce fresh, original, and distinctive products – quickly, and at often at the lowest possible price.
But the supply chain isn’t short, and planning, sourcing, and production take time. Yet many brands still rely on decades-old software to get the job done. These legacy systems were built for on premises installation, are often highly customized, and lack the connectivity or scalability brands need to quickly adapt to the latest trends and get their suppliers and factories up to speed along the way.
What are three things brands should look for in their core planning software?
Topics: Fashion & Retail, PLM, Fashion & Apparel
According to a recent blog post by our partner, Infor, manufacturers are expressing optimism for growth in 2018.
A report published by the Leading Edge Alliance paints a rosy picture of the global outlook for manufacturing. Manufacturers’ optimism for the world economy in 2018 is now 59.4% — almost a 15-point increase over the 2017 outlook. Manufacturers are also optimistic about their national economies (69.3%) and their regional economies (69.3%)
Topics: Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Distribution, Infor M3, Chemical, Equipment
In a fast-paced fashion environment, the biggest asset fashion manufacturers have is the ability to get new ideas to consumers quickly.
While spreadsheets have served the industry well for many years, in today's data-driven world, their limited functionality results in time lags, data inaccuracies, linear sequential processes, and a lack of integration to data libraries. Unlike product lifecycle management (PLM) tools, spreadsheets simply don't have the functionality to handle the new demands of a modern fashion business.
Topics: Fashion & Retail, PLM, Fashion & Apparel
Should you choose functionality or flexibility?
Yes.
Modification is a controversial word for many professionals in manufacturing’s IT industry. The term
“off the shelf” also has mixed connotations, as it is often associated with old generic business solutions that offered rudimentary functionality under the guise of “plug and play” simplicity.
As the needs of manufacturers have changed over the years, the software available to address them has evolved as well, leading to a lot of discussion lately around the age-old question of “to modify or not to modify.” While the issue remains complex, the pendulum seems to be swinging clearly away from heavily customized systems and toward those that can provide a large percentage of the functionality required, without significant modifications. A number of factors are driving this trend—aging systems (the acronym ERP, first used by Gartner, celebrates its 25th birthday this year), the increasing difficulty of finding workers who can support them, and changing market conditions are all on the list.
Topics: Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Distribution, Infor M3, Chemical, Equipment
Manufacturers face increasing pressures to adopt digital strategies in order to keep pace with innovation and customer expectations. Unfortunately, according to IDC Manufacturing Insights, manufacturers are also reluctant to be first movers. Only 15% have a digital strategy in place now. 37% Want to be early adapters, but not first movers— because there may be risks. And, 35% say they prefer to wait until they see proven results before they deploy digital technologies.
Topics: Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Distribution, Infor M3, Chemical, Equipment
Digital transformation is impacting all manufacturing and distribution businesses. No matter how complex your supply chain is, you need to be able to respond faster to change, reduce excess inventory, and cut costs. Most importantly, you’ve got to give customers what you’ve promised at the time you promised it. To keep up with the pace of change, you need an agile and modern ERP solution that is flexible enough to handle both the opportunities and challenges you face today—and tomorrow.
Read how Infor M3 delivers rich industry-specific functionality to cover your unique business needs.
Topics: Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Distribution, Infor M3, Chemical, Equipment
ICCG provides some resources - by industry - to provide you with the information and education to get started. Download and read at your own pace and if you have questions, we look forward to answering.
Topics: ERP, Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Distribution, Rentals & Equipment, Retail