Manhattan Associates Launches Supply Chain Solutions for Retail

Provider is offering the complete footprint for supply chain planning, execution

Provider is offering the complete footprint for supply chain planning, execution

Atlanta — January 16, 2006 — Supply chain solutions provider Manhattan Associates Inc. today announced its supply chain solutions strategy for fulfilling the planning and execution needs of retailers. Through this initiative, retailers can utilize Manhattan Associates' Integrated Planning Solutions and Integrated Logistics Solutions to solve the specific challenges they face in today's demand-driven supply chain.

Manhattan Associates said its solutions address the comprehensive needs of retailers of all sizes. Operating on a common business platform, the company's traditional execution offering has expanded to include advanced planning, replenishment and demand forecasting.

Manhattan Associates said its solution are designed to help retailers utilize a common demand forecast across both planning and execution, optimize warehouse operations, create merchandise plans by channel and across channels, manage private labels, run an efficient transportation network for both inbound and outbound transportation, and handle forecasting and replenishment for both stores and distribution centers.

Greg Beck, vice president of purchasing at O'Reilly Auto Parts, commented that his company is committed to offering the highest possible service level, as well as to have parts that its customers need in-stock, and that's why they selected Manhattan Associates. "Manhattan Associates helps us do this with their planning and execution solutions. As the only solutions provider to offer the complete footprint for supply chain management, Manhattan Associates will continue to help us meet our needs in the future."

Manhattan Associates said that today's market is becoming increasingly complex and competitive for retailers of all sizes. Large, multi-channel retailers can no longer operate selling channels as individual silos. In order to optimize their supply chain they must have visibility by channel and across channels. Smaller, niche retailers are faced with the pressures of having small margins for error, less resources and new competition entering the market each and every day. Manhattan Associates said its solutions are targeted help companies of all sizes address these challenges.

Manhattan Associates' demand forecasting solution can be implemented stand-alone or as an integrated part of an overall planning and execution strategy. The company said the solution allows retailers to utilize a common demand forecast across both planning and execution so retailers can better plan inventory needs, determine labor and transportation requirements and predict slow moving items. With the ability to adjust operations to actual demand, companies can expect to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their operations.

The provider also said that retailers can plan and monitor measures and attributes specific to each selling channel with its advanced planning solutions, including financial, item, assortment, promotion, catalog and Web planning.

Finally, retailers have the ability to optimize transportation needs with Manhattan Associates' transportation management solutions, which help companies plan, procure and execute the transportation network across modes and globally.

"The integration of the former Evant's strong demand-driven retail planning and replenishment into Manhattan's supply chain execution platform establishes a powerful platform of enterprise functionality for thought-leading retailers," said AMR Research, a provider of independent analysis and actionable advice to supply chain and technology executives worldwide.

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