News

JDA launches new merchandising solution

April 19, 2012

JDA Software Group, Inc., has released a merchandising solution, JDA Assortment 8.0, that combines consumer purchase preferences, in-depth analytics, complete assortment lifecycle planning, and sizing and pre-pack optimization into one easy-to-use workflow, according to a company press release.

JDA Assortment allows retailers to analyze, plan, execute and distribute localized assortments in an exception-based, automated methodology across all channels and verticals — with continuous visibility into inter-dependent key performance indicators, Wayne Usie, senior vice president, retail, JDA Software, said in the release.

"Accurate and localized assortments are key to enabling positive customer experiences," he said. "With JDA Assortment, retailers can align consumer-connected assortments with merchandising strategy and financial objectives while maximizing store space, user productivity and supply chain capabilities."

In addition to the convergence of customized assortments and optimized inventory capabilities, Usie said JDA Assortment includes the following:

• Assortment strategy: Align strategic or tactical assortment goals with the organization's financial plans.
• Plan versioning: Save multiple assortment plan versions (original, current, and working), simplifying workflow while still maintaining original plan objectives.
• Improved assortment tailoring: Create dynamic store groups (based on user-defined criteria), include or exclude store groups, specify different sales and inventory parameters and modify selling duration by store micro segments.
• Multi-channel: Extended support for demand-driven assortments to multiple channels and channel-specific assortment planning with potentially different assortment parameters.
• Assortment configurator: Streamline configurations and implementations to adapt to the needs of a specific retailer while also lowering the time and cost associated with the solution implementation.
• Filtering on sales and receipt plan: Conduct attribute-based filtering to give planners greater control over their assortments by applying a unique strategy for similar product types.
• Product assortment lifecycle management: View the comprehensive product lifecycle with the ability to review individual aspects. JDA Assortment also provides a graphical view to not only visualize assortment, but also a time-line view of how assortments flow over time, highlighting key transitional phases.
• Historical analysis: Analyze historical data and derive key insights around preferred attributes by user defined metrics.
• Usability: Take advantage of multiple usability features leveraging core spreadsheet features like graphing, charting, filtering, and sorting for greater control over editing and analyzing assortments and applying specific strategies to improve assortment effectiveness.

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