Apparel brands & retailers aim to expand PLM functionality: CGS

26 Mar '21

2 min read

Pic: CGS

Forty one per cent of apparel, fashion and retail executives are looking to expand PLM functionality, by integrating with ERP, business processes, and workflows and PIM, according to the ‘2021 CGS Annual Report: Supply Chain Trends & Technology’. CGS, headquartered in the US, is a business applications, enterprise learning, and outsourcing services company.

Overall, survey respondents are focusing on fundamentals: controlling costs and quality, ensuring they have inventory, getting products out the door, keeping operations safe. There is some discouragement over net sales and efficiency declines, yet optimism about an eventual return to pre-pandemic growth with houses in better order, according to the report by CGS.

As for the biggest 2021 growth opportunities, survey respondents offered a resounding vote for three digital channels: company-owned websites, online marketplaces and social media shopping. The first two channels ranked as number one and number 2 growth opportunities in our 2020 survey results; social media shopping jumped from number 4 to number 3. People expect continued e-commerce enthusiasm. At the same time, the results reflect worries about brick-and-mortar outlets. Although a quarter of respondents expect some growth from physical stores this year, most expect things to stay the same as in 2020 or to decline. More than half of respondents ranked product category expansion as a growth path, CGS said.

“Every company can benefit by implementing more technology. Depending on their current technology maturity level, they may need to focus on an ERP, PLM, vendor management portal, B2B e-commerce, or warehousing and distribution solution. The pandemic is driving rapid and significant changes in sourcing strategies and sharing risk across the supply chain. Strong supply chain partnerships are required now more than ever to deliver the visibility, agility, speed, collaboration and other requirements for understanding and meeting consumer demand. Companies ultimately need to connect their supply chains from the shop floor to the showroom. Technologies that enable the movement of 3D objects across the enterprise, business analytics (BI), and predictability and data analysis (AI) are helpful here. Platforms like BlueCherry Shop Floor Control provide complete real-time visibility into order status and work in process,” Paul Magel, president, CGS said in a statement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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