Adams rips and replaces supply chain tech

Clothing retailer Adams Childrenswear has ripped out its old supply chain and merchandising systems and replaced them with new kit from Retail Assist.

Logistics director Keith Pound told silicon.com the incumbent technology, supplied by JDA, was 10 years old and no longer supported externally.

silicon.com Retail & Leisure

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With significant risk to some parts of the business should the system fail - the merchandising team in particular relied heavily on its business intelligence - it was imperative to replace the technology as soon as possible.

The new system, in pilot and slated for roll out by July 2009, will manage merchandise and warehouse control, and will also replace analysis and reporting tools currently provided by Business Objects.

It will also be used to manage the interfaces between Adams' suppliers as well as its relationship to provide children's clothes to Boots.

While the systems will essentially continue doing the work previously managed by the old systems, Pound said the implementation will be a significant contributor to the retailer's continued recovery, being bought out of administration by former Stead & Simpson chairman John Shannon in February last year.

Pound said: "Our business is all about like-for-like growth and the implementation will be a significant contributor to that KPI [key performance indicator]."

Pound added the warehouse and merchandising systems will also provide a springboard for further growth in the retailer's online arm, supporting fulfilment for the Adams site and for the Boots ecommerce site the company runs for its third party partner.

Adams gets around two per cent of its business through online channels, way below the industry average. Pound said the opportunities to grow this part of the business will be substantial.

He said: "Adams is also looking to grow its international business which has already been established in the Middle East. The new systems will give functionality to control and track stock for our international partners."