Connected, "always-on" consumers are now the driving force in retail. The information they need to make a buying decision can be found in mere seconds and shapes what they buy, when and where they buy it, and at what price. Empowered and emboldened, these connected consumers expect personalized relationships and offerings delivered through flexible options.

With consumers firmly in the driver's seat, how can retailers adapt and succeed? According to JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS), The Supply Chain Company®, it requires a new approach - one that allows retailers to attract, win and keep profitable customers. It starts with retailers understanding the urgency of the situation and the need to quickly adopt the following strategies:

  • Manage with a consumer - versus a product - focus
  • Adapt a culture that offers a seamless, consistent cross-channel experience
  • Gain a multi-dimensional view of the customer
  • Eliminate ineffective and disjointed planning processes
  • Respond quickly to consumer demand with an agile and optimized supply chain

"Today's consumers - hyper-connected and seeking instant gratification - don't have the time or patience for the old way of retailing," said Wayne Usie, senior vice president, retail, JDA Software. "They comparison shop using their mobile devices, and armed with information, feel empowered to negotiate with in-store sales associates. They expect retailers to give them what they want, where and when they want it. They expect to be able to shop seamlessly at home, in-store and everywhere. They not only expect retailers to put products in front of them, but to engage with them to gain their loyalty. This has created an evolve-or-die scenario for retailers, and JDA can help with its differentiated strategies for consumer-connected retail."

The Next Generation: Consumer-Connected Retail

Retailers seeking customer-centricity in every interaction have much to consider, including:

  • The increasing frequency and scope of demand shifts within planning cycles, which commands intelligence and interaction during execution to ensure customer satisfaction and profitability.
  • How to deliver endless aisles - sourcing and delivering from the broadest network in real time to offer greater assortment flexibility and to cement loyalty.
  • The need to empower store associates with customer, product and availability information that is equal or superior to that accessible to consumers, allowing for increased customer satisfaction.
  • Inventory allocation flexibility and utilization control to meet growing demands.

Success in Consumer-Connected Retail starts with a strong foundation built on the simultaneous management of the customer experience, the product lifecycle and channel synchronization. These three inter-related strategies drive a company's ability to effectively plan, execute, and satisfy customers. Strategy and plan information can then be leveraged in a retailer's systems to map to each strategic area and process in an iterative - instead of sequential - design leveraging automation to support the thousands of decisions and scenarios retailers are faced with every day. The ability to manage the strategic customer, product and channel cycles in a contiguous fashion that fosters the natural connection points between these pillars is critical to achieving success in consumer-connected retail.

For a more in-depth viewpoint on Consumer-Connected Retail and what it takes to win in this environment, download the article "Consumer-Connected Retail: Attracting, Winning and Keeping Profitable Customers." In addition, JDA will be sharing its Consumer-Connected Retail approach at the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 101st Annual Convention and Expo in New York City, Jan 15-18, 2012. Attendees can visit JDA at booth No. 403 to learn about new solutions designed to empower a consumer-connected retail enterprise. JDA retail consultants will be available to meet with interested attendees during show hours. Private meetings can be arranged in advance by sending an email to Info@jda.com.

Tweet this: .@JDASoftware offers strategies for meeting the expectations of the new connected consumer. http://jda.com/connected

About JDA Software Group, Inc.

JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS), The Supply Chain Company®, is the leading provider of innovative supply chain management, merchandising and pricing excellence solutions worldwide. JDA empowers more than 6,000 companies of all sizes to make optimal decisions that improve profitability and achieve real results in the discrete and process manufacturing, wholesale distribution, transportation, retail and services industries. With an integrated solutions offering that spans the entire supply chain from materials to the consumer, JDA leverages the powerful heritage and knowledge capital of acquired market leaders including i2 Technologies®, Manugistics®, E3®, Intactix® and Arthur®. JDA's multiple service options, delivered via the JDA® Private Cloud, provide customers with flexible configurations, rapid time-to-value, lower total cost of ownership and 24/7 functional and technical support and expertise. To learn more, visit www.jda.com or e-mail info@jda.com.

RSS Feeds:
JDA press releases: www.jda.com/rss.asp?a=press
JDA news: http://www.jda.com/rss.asp?a=news
JDA events: http://www.jda.com/rss.asp?a=events

Social Networks:
Web: www.jda.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JDASoftware
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JDASoftwareGroup
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/JDA-Software
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/JDASoftware
SlideShare: www.slideshare.net/JDASoftware

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as "can," "will," "ensure," "help," "enable" and "expect" and other words with forward-looking connotations. In this press release, such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, comments that certain strategies and solutions can provide benefits to companies. The occurrence of future events may involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: (a) our strategies and solutions may not perform exactly as we anticipate; (b) there may be implementation and integration problems associated with our strategies and solutions; and (c) other risks detailed from time to time in the "Risk Factors" section of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information relating to the uncertainty affecting our business is contained in our filings with the SEC. As a result of these and other risks, actual results may differ materially from those predicted. JDA is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

"JDA" is a trademark or registered trademark of JDA Software Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "JDA" is a trademark and/or property of JDA Software Group, Inc.

JDA Software Group, Inc.
JDA Investor Relations Contact:
Mike Burnett, 480-308-3392
GVP, Treasury and Investor Relations
mike.burnett@jda.com
or
JDA Public Relations Contact:
Stephen Phillips, 469-357-4826
Public Relations Manager
Stephen.Phillips@jda.com