Plan to deliver collaboration solutions for Japan's retail, manufacturing and wholesale distribution companies to reduce promotional event out-of-stocks
Waltham, MA — August 15, 2003 — CRC Solutions and Syncra Systems, a provider of supply chain collaboration solutions, have announced a sales and systems integration relationship. Together, the companies said they would provide collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) solutions for Japan's retail industry to help address the problem of consumer product out-of-stocks associated with retail promotional events.
Increasing competitive pressures in Japan's retail market, including the entry of foreign players, have accelerated the acceptance and adoption of CPFR best practices, according to the providers. A key issue putting Japanese companies at a disadvantage is the problem of out-of-stocks. Poor supply chain visibility to inventory levels results in not enough products on the shelf to support key retail promotional events. The companies said supply chain collaboration is now viewed as necessary to overcoming these obstacles to increased competitiveness, enabling companies to keep pace with international best practices.
Using the Syncra Xt platform, Syncra said Japanese retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers can begin collaborating on promotional events with planning and forecasting solutions that match their business needs, products and processes. CRC said it would provide systems integration services around the Xt platform to help companies create inter-enterprise collaboration environments that complement their existing infrastructures.
"CRC has for many years provided a range of consulting services incorporating system design, development, maintenance and support to both our retail and wholesale customers," said Hiromi Sugiyama, president of CRC. "We are placing a great deal of emphasis on CPFR, and Syncra's technology has become the standard in the industry, speeding the linkage of our customers in these segments."
Wes Arens, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations for Syncra Systems, said, "We are pleased to continue to expand our presence in Japan with systems integrators such as CRC. CRC has a strong reputation in Japan's retail, wholesale and manufacturing industries, with specific focus on the Itochu Group companies."
