Like your car before it has been well-tuned, it's probable that your supply chain also is not operating at its highest efficiency right now to bring the highest possible margin. Your company's supply chain scenario, like those of many others, might be piled high with products, suppliers and trading partners that are reducing the effectiveness of its strategy. Even though you and your team are working hard to manage at peak effectiveness, it is likely that the key metrics – on-time delivery, order lead time, and ability to react to consumer trends – tend to slip.

Today, retailers sourcing from low-cost countries need to implement technology tools to help manage the entire product lifecycle and supply chain, thus ensuring their success. These solutions enable dramatic improvements by improving collaboration among various and distinct internal and external groups, standardizing processes and documents, and acting as a central knowledge base to store and share all related data that provides visibility into the supply chain process.

According to AMR Research, apparel and brand manufacturers need a technology solution that integrates an array of tool sets “across a single platform to orchestrate the complex business processes rapidly and efficiently across a globally distributed network.” Armed with a solution at this level of sophistication, the result is faster time to market, lower product cost, and improved design – the coveted brass ring in supply chain management. Also, the Aberdeen Group conducted similar studies that states that “little doubt” exists that technology is helping fashion, apparel, and footwear companies become more agile and meet the challenges of their markets.

The fully-integrated, web-based suite of functionality found in XpressCommerce, a leading edge solution, engages the entire supply chain by creating a direct, efficient connection between product development, procurement and suppliers to support better cost management throughout the entire product lifecycle process.