Microsoft Expands Its Line Of Retail Management Apps - Software - IT Channel News by CRN and VARBusiness
By Rick Whiting, CMP Channel
7:30 AM EST =. O=2. 14, 2008
Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) is expanding it's application offerings for the retail industry, debuting at the National Retail Federation conference a new end-to-end solution for retail chains that combines retail management software with back-end ERP applications.
The new Microsoft Dynamics for retail solution integrates the vendor's in-store Dynamics Retail Management System application with its Dynamics AX applications for purchasing, inventory management, merchandising and supply chain management.
The new system targets specialty retail chains, such as companies that operate chains of clothing or furniture stores, said Michael Griffiths, group product manager, Microsoft Dynamics Retail.
The new product will help retailers improve customer service at the point of sale and better integrate their supply chain and warehouse operations, Griffiths said. The system will aid base pricing, purchasing and merchandising decisions; help retailers coordinate inventory levels with customer demand; and maximize up-selling and cross-selling opportunities. The software's business intelligence capabilities will help retailers analyze sales data by store, product and supplier, and develop information to aid in negotiations with suppliers.
At the NRF conference Microsoft will be touting the use of the new solution by the Dallas Cowboys football organization that sells team merchandise through a chain of Dallas Cowboys shops around the country. That solution was implemented by two Microsoft gold-certified channel partners: POSitive Technology, a Germantown, Md.-based solution provider, and Columbus IT, a Ballerup, Denmark-based consulting and software development company.
An English version of the application is available now with versions in other languages to debut late this year.