Deichmann relies on Centric Software’s platform solutions to develop its private label brands more efficiently and to manage them between transnational teams and external manufacturers. The market leader in European shoe retail is using the US provider’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions to harmonise processes and bring products to market faster. Deichmann’s technology partner Centric Software drives forward the merging of the PLM and PIM worlds with the planned acquisition of PIM specialist Contentserv.
“Centric’s solutions allow us to create more structured workflows, reduce over-engineering and focus on developing shoes that our customers really want,” explains Rainer Ochsenkiel, Chief Purchasing Officer at Deichmann. The shoe specialist is thus pursuing the goal of managing product development, sourcing and sales based on data. Deichmann employees save time by using Centrics’ platform as they no longer have to maintain product data manually in Excel, can plan product ranges digitally instead of using PowerPoint, issue approvals without long email chains and automate price and sample management – for more efficient, faster and precise processes.
Deichmann is using Centric’s Visual Boards to improve cross-divisional collaboration across its 34 country organisations. The solution’s digital workspaces optimise coordination between design, purchasing and marketing departments and increase transparency throughout the entire product lifecycle. Teams manage images, product information as well as project and financial plans centrally from any device. All team members also see updates in real time so that decisions can be made more quickly and documented directly in the PLM system.
Centric acquires PIM specialist Contentserv
Centric Software plans to strategically expand its portfolio. Last month, the US company announced plans to acquire German PIM provider Contentserv. Centric is thus focussing on the seamless integration of PLM and PIM from a single source. The tech company is thus pursuing the goal of providing a holistic AI-based solution that enables companies to optimise their product lifecycle management on a single platform and provide valid, channel-optimised product content at all times – without duplicate data maintenance.
In addition to Deichmann, Aldi Süd also relies on Centric Software’s solutions to support collaboration between its international teams in assortment and product development. The Californian provider announced this in September 2023. In addition, dm Drogeriemarkt and Decathlon also use Centric Software’s platform – as reported by The Retail Optimiser.
