Join forces to streamline consumer goods product information management
Mountain View, CA, Utrecht, The Netherlands — January 16, 2004 — Velosel Corp., a provider of collaborative product information management (PIM) software, has signed an agreement with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Nederland B.V. (CGE&Y) to deliver global data synchronization (GDS) solutions to consumer goods retailers and manufacturers.
According to the companies, the solutions are designed to bring positive impact to balance sheet performance, operating revenues and income, as well as cost optimization to customers.
CGE&Y said the partnership plays a key role in its global consumer goods practice strategy, which is to support its customers in achieving the business benefits of applying global standards endorsed by the Global Commerce Initiative (GCI). CGE&Y's research shows that through GDS, 1 to 3 percent of supply chain costs can be saved. The goal of the partnership is to develop joint product and service solutions that enable manufacturers and retailers to collect these cost benefits.
The partnership is spearheaded from the Dutch region of CGE&Y and will support activities in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Under the agreement, CGE&Y said it would provide implementation and consultancy services for Velosel's collaborative product information management application, Velosel5.
The provider said manufacturers and retailers use Velosel5 across the United States and Europe to build centralized repositories of product information, synchronize product information with their trading partners and establish the foundation for emerging technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID).
Velosel said it is providing product training to CGE&Y consultants and the two companies are rolling out joint sales and marketing programs.
"Product information management is now an imperative for most large manufacturers and retailers who are trying to reach their GDS objectives. But it's a complex process which can fall at the first hurdle if not scoped out fully from the start," said Andrew White, research analyst at Gartner Group. "Working with partners who demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of product information management issues within the consumer goods market will help users achieve the benefits of global data synchronization more quickly."
"Velosel's industry focus makes it an ideal partner for our consumer goods practice," said Emiel van Schaik, global leader, consumer products and retail sector at CGE&Y. "Our teams have been working together well, and with this formal agreement in place, we expect to deliver comprehensive solutions to our customers."
