Case Study: Increases Accuracy and Speed with Pollux PLM

In the competitive landscape of the multi retail industry, efficiency and accuracy in product management are paramount. Multi-retail brands face the challenge of managing vast amounts of data across various categories while ensuring timely access to critical information. This case study, titled "Increases Accuracy and Speed with Pollux PLM: An Analysis of a Multi-Retail Brand," delves into how Pollux PLM has transformed the operational capabilities of a prominent multi-retail client. By automating data aggregation without manual intervention, Pollux PLM enables immediate access to vital information, significantly enhancing decision-making processes and operational efficiency. This transformation not only streamlines workflows but also empowers teams to focus on innovation and customer engagement, ultimately driving business growth.

This case study examines the profound impact of Pollux PLM on a leading multi-retail brand, showcasing how the system has revolutionized their product lifecycle management. Prior to implementing Pollux PLM, the brand struggled with manual data entry and fragmented information systems, leading to delays and inaccuracies that hindered their ability to respond swiftly to market demands.

With Pollux PLM, the brand has achieved remarkable improvements:

The system aggregates information seamlessly, eliminating the need for manual input and allowing teams to access real-time data instantly.

By reducing human error associated with manual processes, Pollux PLM ensures that product data is accurate and reliable, which is crucial for informed decision-making.

The time required to gather and analyze product information has been dramatically reduced, enabling faster responses to market trends and customer needs.

Centralized data management fosters better communication among departments, leading to more cohesive product development efforts.

With immediate access to comprehensive data insights, the brand can make strategic decisions that enhance their competitive advantage in the retail market.

The implementation of Pollux PLM exemplifies how leveraging advanced technology can lead to significant operational enhancements in the retail sector. This case study highlights the potential for multi-retail brands to thrive by adopting innovative PLM solutions that prioritize accuracy and speed in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Despite selling in Southern Africa, our client's sourcing, buying, and merchandising activities are conducted worldwide. In an excel-based setting, these had become impossible to handle, as the head of purchasing describes.

As per the client - "The work our buyers were doing was almost entirely on paper and in spreadsheets, which created a great deal of unnecessary complexity and allowed a lot of errors to creep in," the client stated as the problem. We lacked an audit trail for information because we mostly spoke with foreign suppliers via email, and it was getting harder to follow a product's development over time. Limited cooperation and slow communication were also causing delays and having an impact on financial results in other areas of the company.

In addition, we were having serious issues since we were unable to see important factors like margins, exchange rates, and supplier loading. For instance, one team member would have to go all around the building gathering spreadsheets in various forms in order to analyse margins. They would then have to try to re-collect, re-format, and compile all of the data into a single, large roll-up. The process could take two to three weeks, by which time the data would already be out of date and the margins would have changed.

One of the main features of Pollux Software's Agile Deployment technique that attracted clients' attention is its adaptability to the rapid changes in the industry.

In order to demonstrate a "day in the life" of a buyer working in PLM, the client subsequently asked Pollux to provide an additional proof of concept demonstration. In this demonstration, local consultants installed the solution in less than twenty-four hours. It was evident that Pollux would not necessitate a change in the client’s teams' methods of operation, the solution could be swiftly tailored to meet our changing requirements.

Prior to PLM, buyers' desks would be overflowing with folders, each one holding printouts of emails and Excel spreadsheets. Now that we operate with Pollux PLM, all of that data is digital and standardized, all of our buyers are working within the system, and everything—from supplier communications to tendering and quoting—is in one location, assisting in accurate costing based on consistent, clear data.

The most important outcome of this digital transformation for the customer is instant access to insights and business-critical data that would have previously taken days or weeks to analyze.

One of Pollux's USPs is its ability to provide users with immediate access to accurate information without requiring personal involvement. Decisions were not founded on correct information since combining Excel spreadsheets took a lot of time and had a significant margin for mistake. With only one button click, Pollux provides us with real-time intelligence that helps us make wise judgements.