Apparel ERP: Getting It Right.

An Introduction.

Change: How do you manage it, how do you make it a core competency, how do ride the wave to market advantage? One thing is certain: You’ll need the right Apparel ERP system, and the right vendor by your side as you implement it, adjust and expand it and hew your operations to it.

So how do you choose the Apparel ERP vendor and system that’s right for you? This series of articles explores that question in light of the many fundamental, and from the perspective of the C-level executives in your organization. It is not meant to be the definitive guide. There are many, many other resources on erp.com you’ll want to tap into. But we can promise you we will introduce you to the key issues that will factor into your selection process.

First, some housekeeping. By Apparel ERP we mean systems designed to meet the special needs of the fashion/apparel/textile/footwear industries, especially for those companies that design/source/distribute, wholesale or manufacture goods.

What all those companies have in common is that they have been impacted by globalization, an insanely competitive landscape leading to voracious consolidation and ever more fickle and demanding consumers. Companies that used to simply manufacture commonly now design, source and distribute goods. Their distribution options are scarcer; in the United States the 200 or so distinct department store chains that existed in 1980 have shrunken to 17 today. Fashion trends change overnight, demanding the industry become increasingly consumer driven and fashion focused. Add to that the blurring line between retailer and supplier, each moving into the other’s territory and the squeeze on profit margins in incessant.

That’s where best-in-class management of your global supply and distribution chain can add up to competitive advantage. You can’t afford missteps in your Demand and Production planning. You and your competitors access the same suppliers, at similar costs and terms; little chance for differentiation there. Distinctive looks and in-demand brands can be copied almost overnight; hard to sustain advantage here. So how do you compete? The answer is customer intimacy, the building of a unique customer experience that presciently anticipating the customer’s wants, needs and desires. To win, you need to understand your customer better than ever. And respond more quickly than ever.

No wonder companies are investing in technology, especially Apparel ERP, to drive efficiency, cut costs, speed and streamline processes at every step of the way. Getting it right, then, is imperative.

Written by :

kristine H