The programme offers a complete suite of purchasing, warehouse management and billing software combined with business and technical support services. Retalix believes that the product fits with the general trend towards driving down supply chain costs and achieving greater efficiency through increased automation.
In addition, the software taps into a growing trend towards self-distribution as a means of providing a competitive edge. A successful transition and streamlining of warehouse operations can enable food manufacturers to benefit from increased margins, better in-stock availability and store productivity.
The new Retalix CS Direct initiative will enable store operators to evaluate whether they can perform self-warehousing and distribution functions more efficiently than their traditional providers. The programme offers an extensive suite of software solutions for purchasing, order management, warehouse and yard management, as well as invoice reconciliation and billing and a full range of professional business and technical services.
"We recognise that in today's highly competitive environment, many store operators can realise substantial cost savings by going to self distribution," said Jeff Yelton, Retalix USA chief executive. "Retalix CS Direct provides convenience store operators with proven software and services to successfully evaluate and implement all the components of self-distribution.
"Combined with our well established store and head office product offering, our solutions enable retailers to move to a new level of enterprise-wide data synchronisation and visibility and significantly improved business performance."
Retalix, which acquired OMI in January of 2004, offers integrated enterprise-wide software solutions for the global food industry. The company offers a full suite of software applications that support to enable food firms to increase their operating efficiencies.
Stringent legislation, consumer concerns about food safety and growing pressure from major retailers such as Wal-Mart have forced other food retailers and manufacturers to look at every possible means of increasing efficiency throughout the supply chain. It is little wonder then that the food distribution sector is increasingly turning to IT to provide supply chain solutions.
For example, Irish wholesaler BWG has recently installed a high-tech BCP-developed distribution system at its cash & carry depots and distribution centres. The Accord software package is designed to minimise supply chain costs through complete process integration.
The new system from BCP replaces an outdated package used at the cash and carries and an old bespoke system at the distribution centres, both of which provided limited functionality. Suitable for almost 300 users -150 at the cash & carries, and 140 at the distribution centres - the new system utilises Compaq servers running Unix, connecting to PC-based scanning tills and terminals via a local area network.
The installed package includes virtually the entire BCP Accord distribution system, including Loyalty, Intrastat Reporting, for handling trade within the European Community, and recently introduced multi-currency modules.