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2011 Tech Preview Guide

Alliston Ackerman
11/18/2011
Technology has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. In the workplace, it is rapidly changing the way we conduct business internally amongst employees and externally with customers and consumers. Consider the impact of the late Steve Job’s innovations and how we will continue to find new ways to integrate those concepts and tools into our business strategies. The challenge, however, is that technology often changes faster than our ability to keep up; new tools emerge every day. CGT has created this Tech Preview Guide to keep you informed about new tools that may one day be game changers for your organization. Inside, we showcase the latest technology solutions and detail how they can help your business move forward in unprecedented ways.
 
 
 
 

Stratum V6.0
Silvon Software Inc.
Launched: April 2011
Category: Cross-Functional Tool
 
Filling a Need: Stratum was designed to help CPG businesses glean valuable insights from sales and operations data via quick-to-deploy analytics and reports that highlight key performance metrics.
 
Unique Features: Stratum integrates information from ERP, CRM, SCM, POS, etc. into a single business analysis and reporting platform. The application’s packaged analytics provide decision makers with cross-enterprise visibility to sales and operations performance. The most recent release integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Excel and other Office applications, providing additional options for delivering performance data easily to internal users and external parties with whom the enterprise may wish to collaborate. 
 
Key Users: A cross-enterprise BI application used by analysts, demand planners, sales and operations personnel and line-of-business executives.
 
Expected Benefits: Stratum gives CPG decision makers the insight needed to better understand sales trends, demand patterns and trade promotion effectiveness, and drive improvements in inventory, supplier and production performance.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SOLYS Demand Intelligence Solutions
LumiData
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: CPG companies looking to outperform the competition where it counts most, at the cash register, use SOLYS Demand Intelligence Solutions as their BI platform for managing demand from a 360 view.
 
Unique Features: LumiData introduced new functions that immediately lower the cost of exploiting BI technology and provide significant competitive advantages. LumiData’s new POS cross-channel data gathering architecture and multi-team enterprise software platform help CPG companies move away from siloed POS data analytics to a more scalable, integrated analytics approach that fosters company-wide collaboration.
 
Key Users: The new SOLYS VRD (virtual remote delivery) allows users to access SOLYS from anywhere they have an Internet connection. Users get the ease of a web application with all the power and performance of a desktop application. 
 
Expected Benefits: SOLYS now enables CPG companies to take POS analysis to a deeper level — the store level. This level of POS data enables CPG teams to execute store-level, micro-marketing strategies.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TradeInsight
MEI Computer Technology Inc.
Launched: March 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: Understanding trade promotions effectiveness and ROI is critical to CPG companies as promotion spend is now the second largest expense behind only the manufacturing cost. 
 
Unique Features: TradeInsight, a cloud-based solution, simplifies every facet of trade promotions by consolidating spending data in one place. Sales planning, sophisticated promotion management, detailed deduction and trade spend tracking, coupled with intuitive, flexible analytics, enable the entire organization to tackle growing trade challenges. Companies can be up and running in weeks for as little as $2,500 a month with no implementation or ongoing maintenance fees.
 
Key Users: TradeInsight is an extension of a company’s accounting system, enabling sales, finance and trade marketing departments.
 
Expected Benefits: TradeInsight provides an easy to use, centralized tool to monitor trade spending, validate distributor bill-backs, defend against post-audits and track sales revenue more proactively. Leveraging near, real-time data allows precise visibility into all promotion activity. You will be able to evaluate the true effectiveness of each event, determine ROI, measure actual versus plan and even validate deductions in seconds. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3DVIA Store
Dassault Systmes
Launched: June 29, 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: The 3DVIA Store solution addresses the CG industry’s need to design "easier to shop" experiences in a shorter time frame.
 
Unique Features: This solution is fully three-dimensional, highly realistic, interactive, easy to use, collaborative and works in a web browser.?It covers market research, category management, sales to retailers and store deployment. 3DVIA Store is a new extension to Dassault Systmes Collaborative New Product Development and Introduction solution, which is validated for IBM’s Consumer Products Industry Framework. This means it complies with industry standards and is very easy to integrate with other enterprise applications.
 
Key Users: Typical users are brand managers, market research, category managers and strategic sales managers.??
 
Expected Benefits: Making better decisions by seeing the shelf through the eyes of consumers; convincing business partners with shopper-based design; applying in-store strategies to different size of stores; quicker go-to-market; etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DevEX
Selerant
Latest Release Launched: July 2011
Category: Innovation Tool
 
Filling a Need: DevEX provides a comprehensive PLM solution with instant access to critical data, immediately addressing emerging trends and regulatory issues throughout each stage of product development.
 
Unique Features: DevEX is a web-based PLM solution with seamlessly integrated modules: Product Development, Regulatory Compliance, Innovation Process Management and Product Data Management. DevEX’s latest release includes EcoDesign, an all-stage LCA module that enables corporations to analyze and validate products from the initial concept through its final launch for sustainability.
 
Key Users: DevEX toolsets connect the entire product lifecycle from concept to commercialization. DevEX can be used by project managers and team members involved with the launch of a new product, including but not limited to R&D, regulatory, marketing, legal, quality assurance, packaging, plants, testing and IT.
 
Expected Benefits: Proven benefits cited by customers include: reduced time to market; elimination of labeling and compliance errors; leveraging of past knowledge; complete control of product data changes; visibility to success and failure of projects for upper management; and ability to easily search and retrieve information.
 
 
 
 
 
 

BlueSky Integration Studio
Relational Solutions Inc.
Launched: October 2011
Category: Cross-Functional Tool
 
Filling a Need: Provides integration into SAP in order to extract data and harmonize with downstream retailer data to gain insights into category management, supply chain and trade promotion analytics.
 
Unique Features: Relational Solutions’ POSmart architecture is an enterprise Demand Signal Repository (DSR) solution used by many leading CPG companies. POSmart automates the cleansing and integration of POS data with internal ERP data, such as SAP and syndicated data from companies, like The Nielsen Company and SymphonyIRI Group, and other third-party data sources.
 
Key Users: The POS integration engine, called BlueSky Integration Studio, is an enterprise data collection and integration engine crafted specifically for the CPG industry. BlueSky Integration Studio now has the ability to automate the normally time-consuming and costly data-gathering task directly from SAP’s ERP and BW systems.
 
Expected Benefits: These new SAP integration processes include pre-built processes for integrating and harmonizing SAP billing, orders, shipments and master data with store-level POS data. By directly tying into SAP, Relational Solutions can give customers a complete, 360 view of their business, including category management, inventory management and supply chain operations.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Promax PX V9
Promax Applications Group
Launched: September 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: Trade Promotion Management (TPM) and Trade Promotion Optimization (TPO), Forecasting and Volume Planning, Customer Account Planning and Budgeting, Modeling and Optimization solutions
 
Unique Features: The Promax PX solution offers an extensive range of features, including multi-language, multi-currency and multi-division capabilities; the ability to handle direct and indirect customer relationships; a clear process to understand the drivers to baseline and uplift; an integrated one-number approach to forecasting revenue, volume and spend; predictive modeling capabilities to uniformly drive budgeting, scenario planning and promotion planning; the ability to consider the true net effect of a promotion... just to name a few.
 
Key Users: C-Level Executives, Sales Directors, Key Account Managers, Category Managers, Trade Marketing, Finance Teams, Supply Chain
 
Expected Benefits: Promax PX offers fully integrated TPM and TPO in one solution. The advanced and highly intelligent TPM concepts maximize customers return on trade spend investment. Examples of some of the benefits are derived from improved forecast accuracy, best practice processes and business efficiencies in budgeting, account planning, promotion performance accountability, improved financial processes, and a unified and agreed upon set of financial measures from a single data source. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Vision Chain OptiPro
Vision Chain Inc.
Launched: July 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: OptiPro provides a centralized promotion repository and promotional lift analysis for compliant and non-compliant stores.
 
Unique Features: OptiPro focuses on consumption/impact of promotion compliance at the item/store/day level. OptiPro calculates compliant and actual lift of promotions based on promotion execution at the store level. OptiPro also provides a repository of past, current and future promotions.
 
Key Users: Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail Operations
 
Expected Benefits: Compliant lift for promotions, lost sales due to lack of promotion execution, sales opportunities based on real-time intervention during promotions.
 
Want more info? Contact Vision Chain for a demonstration.
 
 
 
 
 
 

XP3 Report Builder
Interactive Edge
Launched: July 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: Most companies spend more time wrangling data and creating reports than actually exploring their data, discovering the insights and then developing the strategies that drive sales and profitability.
 
Unique Features: With flexible reporting and enhanced analytical capabilities, XP3 Report Builder enables business users to get to the insights faster. Users can build complex, flexible reports using an intuitive wizard interface; build Pivot Tables, charts and spreadsheets that automatically update; update reports or entire workbooks with one-click refresh; and generate multiple iterations of reports from a single interface.
 
Key Users: XP3 Report Builder empowers data analysts, sales analysts, category managers and business executives to leverage their Excel skills to better navigate and understand data.
 
Expected Benefits: With XP3 Report Builder, users spend less time struggling with data and more time exploring data. XP3 Report Builder automates the tedious, manual steps of report building and enhances the analytical capabilities of Excel, enabling users to get insights and opportunities faster. Download the trial and see for yourself.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Windchill 10.0
PTC
Launched: May 10, 2011
Category: Innovation Tool
 
Filling a Need: Manufacturers are struggling to meet the constant market demand for higher quality, lower cost products that offer more variety, technology and functionality.
 
Unique Features: Windchill provides a single source of information for the complete product definition and offers repeatable, end-to-end support for all product development processes. PTC’s Windchill was designed for today’s global, Web-based product development environment and can manage product structures from initial concept through after-market services
 
Key Users: Anyone within the extended enterprise can utilize Windchill 10.0 to manage, share and view product information. 
 
Expected Benefits: Windchill 10.0 allows you to do more with structured product and service information, know more about product performance and get more value from product lifecycle management.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shiloh 5, Enterprise DSR
Shiloh Technologies
Launched: May 17, 2011
Category: Cross-Functional Tool
 
Filling a Need: CG companies need one versatile and user-friendly data analytics platform with performance capabilities to increase efficiency and support the enterprise.
 
Unique Features: Available as licensed software or SaaS, Shiloh 5 offers SAP integration, additional best practice dashboards and content, faster performance and ease-of-use enhancements for increased efficiencies. Taking advantage of the improved performance features of Running Microsoft SQL 2008, Shiloh 5 can blend supplier data with any retailer and third-party data sources. Enterprise scalability allows for deployment throughout the organization.
 
Key Users: Deep functionality that meets the analytic needs of each retail team and role (supply chain, category management, sales, etc.) throughout any CG organization, yet accommodates the casual user and the power analyst alike.
 
Expected Benefits: Shiloh empowers CG companies to become a valued partner with their retail customers. Fact-based collaboration identifying improvements in current business scenarios along with new opportunities will increase business for both.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CPG-buzz: Retail Execution Product
buzz solutions
Launched: August 29, 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: CPG-buzz is a cloud computing solution to help CG sales organizations communicate and track execution of retail goals across hundreds of accounts/thousands of retail stores to optimize sales effectiveness. 
 
Unique Features: CPG-buzz provides tools for headquarters to direct and manage the field, and tools that optimize field sales rep effectiveness, all capable on mobile devices. This retail execution product on the force.com cloud platform from salesforce.com gives CG companies more time and tools for selling with less administration.
 
Key Users/Expected Benefits: Headquarters and field sales use CPG-buzz to:
  • Increase productivity by reducing time wasted filling out forms, consolidating reports, or driving inefficient call routing, all on mobile applications.
  • Increase visibility/accuracy with one integrated system for all to see.
  • Increase sales results by addressing distribution, shelving, merchandising and pricing goals, reducing out-of-stocks, decreasing time-to-market and improving promotion compliance.
 
 
 
 
 
 

SAP Trade Promotion Optimization
SAP
Launched: May 2011
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: The inability to predict the impact of promotions, leading to ineffective spend and an inability to drive sustainable baseline volume increases from promotion activity.
 
Unique Features: SAP Trade Promotion Optimization enables trade marketing and sales departments to leverage easy-to-use planning processes embedded within SAP Account & Trade Promotion Management and supported by advanced predictive modeling to suggest optimal pricing and merchandising based on goals and objectives, or to assess revenue, volume & profitability potential based on promotional variables including promotional period, promotion vehicles, products, price points and others. 
 
Key Users: Primary users of SAP Trade Promotion Optimization include sales management, account managers and trade marketing managers. 
 
Expected Benefits: Business benefits include the ability to conduct revenue and volume gap analyses, predict and simulate promotion profitability potential, model incremental revenue, volume and profitability and project incremental baseline volume gains from promotional activity.
 
 
 
 
 
 

!nstant
Field Performance Group
Launch: January 2012??
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: !nstant delivers Sales & Merchandising automation simply, wirelessly, in a SaaS model, through the cloud to modern smart phones, tablets, PCs and rugged devices.
 
Unique Features: Touch-based, simple, intuitive, user managed implementation and support. No setup fees or long-term contracts. Look and feel is consistent across all devices and users can continue working offline if data signal is unavailable. Functionality includes Visit Planning, Notes, Time & Expense, Reminders, Messages, Surveys, Task Lists, Product Audits, Account Plans and Contacts. Custom functionality can be added to meet specialized needs. !nstant supports the use of device specific hardware, including camera, GPS, barcode scanning and signature capture.
 
Key Users: !nstant is used by manufacturers’ field sales and merchandising personnel to plan and execute retail store coverage activities.
 
Expected Benefits: Fast implementation, lower costs, pay as you work, more productive use of the hardware you already have. !nstant uses a SaaS pricing model to deliver a cost effective solution. Additionally, users can access the system across any number of devices for the same price.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quofore Retail Execution Solution (Mojo Edition)
Quofore
Launch: Q1 2012
Category: Sales & Marketing Tool
 
Filling a Need: Quofore’s newest software product release provides a comprehensive solution for salesforce automation, retail execution, pre-sales, sales, merchandising, in-store audits, van sales and direct store delivery.
 
Unique Features: Quofore’s “mojo edition” solution is provided as SaaS, delivered from the cloud and designed to run on multiple devices and mobile operating systems. The solution provides comprehensive functionality for mobile reps and field managers, building on the company’s experience with leading CPG manufacturers around the world. Quofore offers a multi-tenanted solution and is ideally suited for companies operating across multiple divisions or geographic locations — it currently runs in more than 40 countries and 19 languages.
 
Key Users: Field sales representatives, merchandisers, in-store audit personnel, delivery drivers, field managers and administrators. Plus, trade promotions planners and brand/account managers can use reporting capabilities.
 
Expected Benefits: Quofore improves the efficiency and effectiveness of field reps. It delivers quantifiable ROI to the business in field performance as well as through improvements in trade promotion compliance, new product launches and on-shelf availability.
 

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