Fujitsu Launches Merchandise Management System for Fashion Industry

Tokyo, October 04, 2010

Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu System Solutions Limited today announced the immediate availability of Pastel Plus, a merchandise management system created for the fashion industry, in Japan. The system supports sales and product departments of head offices in providing each of its retail outlets with instructions on maintaining the optimal selection of items and changing retail prices.

Pastel Plus automatically identifies those products that are expected to go out of stock or are selling poorly for each retail outlet. By simulating the appropriate number of products to be displayed at store fronts as well as the lowest prices based on sales forecasts, the system strategically presents the optimal quantities and prices for merchandise. This enables head office to employ a sales approach that does not traditionally rely on the experience or intuition of experts and store salespeople, but instead, makes it possible to quickly provide instructions concerning inventory transfers between stores or on price changes, thus helping to prevent lost sales opportunities and overstocking. At the same time, the system can also perform multifaceted analyses using sales performance data, thus providing customers with the necessary information to develop sales plans for the following fiscal quarter, to investigate the reasons behind underperforming retail outlets, and to strengthen the ability of retail outlets to develop effective product selections.

Through the new system, Fujitsu and Fujitsu System Solutions aim to help customers in the fashion industry to further improve operational efficiency and increase profits.

Background

In the fashion business, amidst rapidly changing consumer preferences and trends, there is a significant need for prompt and multifaceted data analysis to identify optimal product selections and sales plans from sales performance data. Due to the increasing diversity of merchandise handled by stores, it has become difficult for companies to accurately determine the quantity of what type of merchandise should be placed in which locations to prevent lost sales opportunities and overstocking, and then be able to quickly take appropriate action.

In response to these challenges, Fujitsu and Fujitsu System Solutions have launched Pastel Plus, which simulates the optimal selection of items and pricing, and helps to issue timely instructions to each retail outlet.

System Features

1. Simulates optimal selection of items and pricing for each retail outlet

The system simulates the appropriate selection of items and pricing for each retail outlet while at the same time, automatically identifying products that are expected to go out of stock or are selling poorly through an alarm feature, as well as presenting the optimal quantities and prices for merchandise. Based on these results, the customer's head office can quickly provide instructions to each retail location regarding inventory transfers between stores or on price changes, which can lead to increased profits.

2. Performs multifaceted analyses using sales performance data

The system can also perform multifaceted analyses using sales performance data, providing customers with the necessary information to develop sales plans for the following fiscal quarter, to investigate the reasons behind underperforming retail outlets, and to strengthen the ability of stores to develop effective product selections. In addition, the system comes standard with a feature that allows users to freely manipulate the collected data and produce analytical reports, thereby helping customers to improve their ability to analyze merchandise.

3. Helps improve sales and salesperson operating efficiency

The system is equipped with features that support customers' retail operations, such as functions that field merchandise inquiries from customers, as well as those that facilitate shipping, restocking and stock counting. As a result, these features help to improve both sales and salesperson operating efficiency, making it possible for salespeople to focus more closely on their first priority of providing excellent customer service.

• Fujitsu System Solutions will be offering "Pastel Plus" under the system name: "WebSERVE smart Pastel"
• Prices above do not include hardware