Woolworths selected Centric PLM to transform end-to-end product development and provide a platform for collaboration. It completed the initial implementation stage and is already enjoying the benefits of Centric PLM, said Woolworths in a press release.

“Our previous product development process was inefficient and time consuming,” said Shane Butlion, head of central business optimisation, Woolworths Fashion, Beauty and Home. “We lacked visibility across our product development lifecycle. Our business has evolved significantly, with expanded sourcing and trading regions, creating additional complexity in the management of these new channels.”

“Centric PLM is a modern and future-fit solution that can be accessed on the move. Centric’s Agile Deployment project approach and highly configurable system, as well as the culture fit between us, Centric and their local implementation partner, Cogworks, were critical to our decision. Centric is the PLM leader in our industry, and the fastest-growing PLM solution provider globally, added Butlion.

“We approached this as a transformational project, not just a system implementation. With Centric’s guidance and best practice experience, we have introduced future-fit improvements to our ways of working. From our initial rollout we expect to see improved collaboration and teamwork in product development, costing efficiencies, better visibility, improved supplier collaboration, a single source of the truth for data, a full audit trail and improved milestone management.”

“We are delighted that Woolworths has successfully gone live on Centric PLM,” said Chris Groves, president and CEO of Centric Software. “Woolworths has undergone a total digital transformation with this implementation, and we are proud to partner with them in their business evolution now and into the future.”

Woolworths South Africa, part of Woolworths Holdings Limited, is a leading retailer operating in South Africa and 11 sub-Saharan African countries. The retailer offers a unique blend of food, fashion, beauty, homeware and financial services.

Woolworths Holdings Limited (WHL) is one of the top 40 companies listed on the JSE Limited Securities Exchange (JSE) with operations across the southern hemisphere and 34 per cent of operating profit generated in Australia.

Woolworths Holdings consists of three major operating divisions: Woolworths South Africa (Woolworths or WSA) based in South Africa and operating across 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa; David Jones (David Jones or DJ) based and trading in Australia; and Country Road Group (Country Road Group or CRG) based in Australia and trading in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Woolworths Financial Services (WFS) is a joint venture between Woolworths and Barclays Africa Group, with Barclays Africa Group owning 50 per cent + 1 share. The WFS board is constituted with directors from both WHL and Barclays Africa Group, with direction on credit policy, risk and funding aspects received from Barclays and direction on customer integration from Woolworths.

The group employs more than 44,000 employees across 14 countries and trades in more than 1,400 store locations. (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India