GNX PRODUCTVINE DELIVERS A PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION TO DRIVE GREATER INNOVATION AND PROFITABILITY OF MARKS & SPENCER PRIVATE BRANDS
Leading UK retailer improves customer responsiveness and standardizes the new product development process with GNX’s grocery-focused product development platform.
San Francisco, CA. – February 28, 2005- GlobalNetXchange (GNX), the e-business solution and service provider connecting retailers and manufacturers worldwide, today announced that Marks & Spencer, one of the UK`s leading retailers, has nearly completed the transition of its own brand product development program to the GNX ProductVine platform, and will be using the solution to manage 100% of its product development and lifecycle management activities by Spring 2005.
Known for its premium-quality, 100% private brand products, Marks & Spencer serves over 10 million shoppers each week in over 375 stores. In addition, it has 155 stores managed under franchise in 28 territories mostly in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East, stores in the Republic of Ireland, nine wholly owned stores in Hong Kong and owns the US supermarket group, Kings Super Markets. Established in 1884, Marks & Spencer offers clothing, food and home products.
GNX ProductVine is a web-based, grocery-specific product lifecycle management (PLM) solution combining both specifications management and workflow functionality. ProductVine’s modular structure supports the full range of retailer private brand strategies. Companies can use modules separately and grow as needed, or implement the full solution to streamline the entire product lifecycle management process. Designed on Microsoft Windows DNA application architecture, ProductVine is delivered as a hosted solution and accessible with a browser interface. This design architecture was critical to Marks & Spencer selection, as it ensured a strategic fit to its corporate IT standards. ProductVine has successfully delivered a secure, scalable and robust solution, used by in excess of 300 internal users and 400 external trading partners.
Marks & Spencer went live with the ProductVine solution in February 2004, and has transitioned 90% of current product lifecycle activities to the GNX platform. They expect to complete the process in Spring 2005, and will continue to bring all new product development to the system. Marks & Spencer uses ProductVine to collaboratively manage all product specific data with its manufacturing partners and suppliers providing a centralized database for the entire business.
“After an evaluation of all PDM solutions on the market, we chose GNX ProductVine because it had the scope we required for our NPD and fit well with our IT programme,” said David Gregory, Head of Food Technology.
“With Marks & Spencer’s entire business focused on premium quality private label products, their selection of GNX ProductVine to manage the core business is strong validation of the solution’s capabilities to support the complex product development needs of best-in-class food retailers,” said Tim Winfield, Vice President of Product Development for GNX.
About GNX
GNX is an e-business solution and service provider for the global retail industry. GNX solutions connect retailers, manufacturers and their trading partners to reduce costs and improve efficiency by streamlining and automating sourcing and supply chain processes. With a hosted platform, comprehensive customer support and deep retail experience, GNX simplifies the implementation process – and makes technology investments go further. GNX customers include many of the world`s largest retailers and manufacturers: Federated Department Stores; Carrefour; Coles Myer; KarstadtQuelle AG; The Kroger Co.; Metro Group; PPR Group; Ace Hardware; J Sainsbury plc; Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Marks & Spencer; Sears Canada; Canadian Tire; Panasonic; Diageo; Unilever; Colgate-Palmolive; Procter & Gamble; SCA Hygiene; Coca-Cola; Masterfoods; Sara Lee; and Kimberly-Clark. Based in San Francisco, California, GNX also has offices in Herndon, Virginia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan. More information is available at www.gnx.com or +1(415) 399-0990.
CONTACT:
Melissa Gisler
GlobalNetXchange
415.283.3804
mgisler@gnx.com
Back...
