Software firm sees 2010 as banner year for RP retailers

MANILA, Philippines - JDA Software Group, Inc., a global provider of innovative supply chain management, merchandising and pricing excellence solutions worldwide, recently shared its optimism over the projected strong performance of the Philippine retail industry for the rest of 2010 and for the next coming two to three years.

Cherokee D. Chamorro, JDA Software country manager, stated in a recent interview: “In 2009, many local retailers still showed growth in spite of challenges in the global economy affecting some of our key industries like semicon/electronics and BPO, in addition to the slowing down of OFW remittances. This year, with the marked improvement in our exports and jump in OFW remittances and BPO growth, there is a strong sense of confidence that strong growth across all retail formats can be achieved by year-end. In addition, the relatively peaceful elections have provided the country a sense of anticipation and stability for the next several years. This, in turn, have spurred a lot of retailers to further expand their chains and invest in strategic systems that would allow them to take advantage of this impending uptick in business.”

Chamorro shared that the big national retailers are now focused in building up more advanced planning and category management solutions to build on the retail foundation they invested in several years ago. Provincial retail leaders, however, are putting in merchandise management systems that allow them to remain strong and competitive in their regions while expanding to other areas.

”The key common strategy for both national and provincial retailers is they all choose to leverage retail-specific systems as opposed to manufacturing-based ERP systems, which have shown to have major gaps in addressing the unique and complex requirements of a retailer. They also choose an end-to-end system that covers not only POS but inventory management, pricing, promotions, cost mgt., warehouse, financials, consignors and concessionaires.” Chamorro said, “Retailers want proven, tested and trusted solutions that can support their retail strategies over the long term.”

JDA Software is the dominant software provider of retail merchandise management and category management solutions in the Philippines, counting clients such as Shoemart, Robinsons, Puregold, 7-11, Duty Free Philippines, Abensons/Waltermart, Rustans/Shopwise, NCCC and many other leading national and provincial retailers in the country.