Lawson Gives Retailers Insight and Analysis

Typically known for its enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications, Lawson Software is making further strides into CRM with yesterday's solution splash for retail executives, managers, and employees. The company introduced its Retail Comp Store Metrics Data Mart and Store Operations to improve store level profitability. Lawson Comp Store Metrics Data Mart has mission-critical retail functionality and logic built into the analytic engine with business intelligence that automates the comp store reporting and analysis process. Lawson Store Operations, a component of Lawson Retail Operations, supports the managers and employees through automated forecasting, advanced replenishment, inventory control, and analysis. Store Operations enables inventory visibility to anticipate fluctuations in inventory levels on the store shelf. "Faced with intense competition and tough economic times, retailers need consistent, accurate analysis of key metrics to enable faster, more confident business decisions," Carol Mackenzie, retail market director at Lawson, said in a prepared statement. "Retail Comp Store Metrics and Store Operations go to the heart of understanding the financial and operational health of a retail enterprise with automated ordering, forecasting, inventory control, and analysis of vital information to improve net profitability and increase revenues. Lawson also unveiled Enterprise Integration, an open interface integration application, using XML APIs, which enables Lawson customers to communicate in near real time between retail operations and other enterprise applications. It complements Lawson's offerings, Mackenzie said, "by providing access to critical information from disparate systems enabling retailers to save money and reduce costs." Separately, Lawson Software yesterday announced Pathmark Stores, a supermarket chain with 143 stores located throughout the densely populated New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, has signed a long-term contract for Lawson's Retail Enterprise Solution, including Retail Operations, Smart Notification and Enterprise Performance Management. Pathmark aims to use the Lawson solution to create a framework for merchandising, to streamline pricing and new items, and to provide users with an exception-based management system. "Lawson's new software system will enhance our ability to source items from different methods of distribution and will provide a quick response to Pathmark's business needs," Art Whitney, executive vice president of merchandising and logistics for Pathmark Stores, said in seperate release. Lawson Software, which competes heavily with Oracle, PeopleSoft, and SAP AG in the ERP space, jumped 11 percent in sales last year to a record $428 million. Lawson also makes enterprise applications for health care, professional services, public sector, and telecommunications industries. Lawson executives were not available to comment further at press time.