Accenture Retail Feed

Pão de Açúcar: Sustainability through Operational Efficiency & Excellence

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:30:00 GMT

Pão de Açúcar’s market research revealed that its customers yearned for a world in which greater investment was made in building a sustainable future. The retailer also believed that future growth could only be assured with a more sustainable business model. After surveying Brazil’s competitive landscape, the company determined that by being the industry’s sustainability leader, it could not only support these wishes, but could also capture long-term customer loyalty in a highly profitable market niche. So, the retailer set out to build the first green grocery store in Brazil.

Argos: Supply Chain Management and Application Management Outsourcing

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:41:22 GMT

When Argos decided it needed to develop an end-to-end supply chain solution that would deliver more responsive service to its smaller stores, it turned to Accenture.

Argos: Supply Chain Management and Application Management Outsourcing

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:27:00 GMT

When Argos decided it needed to develop an end-to-end supply chain solution that would deliver more responsive service to its smaller stores, it turned to Accenture.

The Price Is Right . . . Isn't It?

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:51:13 GMT

Companies that price by instinct are more likely than ever to fall behind competitors, no matter how good their products and services are. Here are the hallmarks of businesses that are improving their performance by building a powerful pricing capability.

How to Make the Most of the Great Consumer Trade Down

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:22:00 GMT

As discretionary spending all but disappears, companies must make adjustments in product mix, pricing, promotions and channel strategy to deliver the innovation today's customers value. By providing offerings with a clear range of desirable benefits and delivering them at the right price point, leading companies will be showing a clear way forward.

Channel Optimization: How Branded Products Manufacturers Can Achieve High Performance Across Their Retail and Distribution Channels

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:46:00 GMT

Manufacturers of branded products are finding themselves in a value squeeze. Accenture believes that a solution to this challenge lies in channel optimization—a program that can help companies make better decisions about applying services and resources across the retail customer base to grow long-term profitability and, ultimately, achieve high performance.

Visual Backroom Management for Retail: How Accenture’s Approach to Optimizing Backroom Management Can Help Retailers Achieve High Performance

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:36:00 GMT

The backroom—the unseen driver of retail operations that holds thousands of dollars in inventory—is often overlooked when improvement opportunities are discussed. Product availability and quick replenishment of the sales floor are critical to success. Finally there's a solution.

MOST Work Measurement Systems: Using the Accenture Managerial Operation Sequencing Technique to Achieve High Performance

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:58:00 GMT

Accenture’s application of the MOST® work measurement systems helps clients achieve high performance by measuring and tracking productivity, and providing the means to determine the time it takes to perform a task. MOST can be applied to any type of work for which a method can be defined and described, and may be used to determine labor requirements, plan and schedule work, set goals, control labor costs and establish a baseline for continuous improvement.

The High Performance Supply Chain Study

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:24:00 GMT

As globalization drives rapid change in all aspects of nearly every company’s operations, effective supply chain mastery has become an increasingly critical factor to achieving high performance. And for planning professionals, their role has never been more important—or challenging.

Achieving High Performance through Talent Management

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:21:00 GMT

In the face of the global economic crisis, talent management is more important than ever. Fortunately, Accenture has developed an approach to help retailers rapidly acquire access to a pool of highly engaged, skilled and productive workers that can help to boost performance in under-delivering areas. With real results generated in weeks, the Accenture approach drives out cost while simultaneously driving up performance in critical to business performance areas.

Accenture’s Analysis of IDC Research: Retailers’ Response to the Global Economy Downturn.

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:48:00 GMT

Download the video [MP4, 153 MB] [Running Time 55:00]

Achieving High Performance through Sustainable Cost Management

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:10:00 GMT

Accenture can help retailers maintain profits and stay off the list of retailers either closing stores, or closing for good, by maximizing sustainable cost management.

Achieving High Performance through On-Shelf Availability

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:54:00 GMT

Accenture can help retailers break the boom-or-bust cycles that characterize inventory management—and help them achieve high performance by maximizing on-shelf availability.

The Power of Process: Accelerating High Performance with Accenture and SAP

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:14:00 GMT

Accenture and SAP can help retailers achieve high performance through better, cheaper and faster business processes.

Achieving High Performance in the Supply Chain: Inventory Optimization

Tue, 26 May 2009 06:36:02 GMT

Despite the significant impact that inventory management can have on a company’s ability to achieve high performance, many companies continue to rely on basic, ineffective inventory policies. Accenture outlines the benefits of a more sophisticated approach to inventory optimization and details the elements of such an approach.

Putting Customers at the Heart of the Retail Merger

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:04:00 GMT

Once the global economy recovers, retail M&A activity will take off in earnest as stronger players move on weaker competitors. However, acquirers must develop clear strategies to manage the impact on customers in order to realize expected benefits and ultimately achieve high performance.

Engineered Standards for Grocery

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:20:00 GMT

Accenture recognizes that developing labor standards in an industry where workforce management is so complex can be a daunting prospect. Attempts to come to grips with the sheer quantity of data often flounder in a sea of detail, exhausting the time and patience of far too many retail grocers.

Engineered Standards for Distribution

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:13:00 GMT

Today's competitive landscape requires new thinking, disciplines and technologies for managing a distribution center, and controlling labor costs is a critical component of that requirement. Labor costs already make up more than half of a typical distribution center’s total costs—and they are increasing rapidly as clients place smaller, more frequent orders and demand more value-added services.

The Future of E-Commerce: Bridging the Digital Divide

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:41:42 GMT

This point of view predicts the end of e-commerce as we know it with branding, marketing and retail converging in integrated experiences that cut across traditional and digital channels with mobile playing an ever more important role. This more flexible and adaptive interface with customers will require strategies that are equally flexible and adaptive.

Chico's FAS: Technology and Process Platform

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:07:00 GMT

Accenture worked closely with Chico’s to help transform the retailer’s operations and streamline critical processes in a number of areas such as planning, allocation and replenishment, inventory management and finance. With Accenture’s help, Chico’s is now using common enterprise processes and applications to bring its growth strategy to life.

How Retailers Compete on Analytics to Achieve High Performance

Tue, 22 May 2007 18:13:36 GMT

Jeanne G. Harris and Eric M.Lowitt

Transforming the Retail Workforce to Achieve High Performance

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 17:14:07 GMT

This paper explores opportunities for transforming retailing associates by focusing on three key talent management levers: recruiting, learning and performance management. In this way, Accenture can help create a workforce that enables high performance.

Edcon: Application Outsourcing

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:36:36 GMT

Facing significant business challenges and struggling to meet its financial targets, the Edcon Group believed that a new approach to IT management would be a key component of a comprehensive plan to place the company back on a path to high performance. Download the PDF article [PDF, 135KB] PDF Help

Staples: Lean Six Sigma

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:08:21 GMT

Accenture research reveals that the building blocks of high performance are market focus and position, distinctive capabilities, and a performance anatomy that represents the common culture and mindsets that enable companies to out-execute their competitors. A Lean Six Sigma program generates significant savings that allow companies to focus on building and retaining their competitive edge. Lean Six Sigma enables companies to streamline processes and create capabilities that are hard to replicate. It infuses an organization’s culture with the tools and capability to achieve continual process improvement and high performance.

Achieving High Performance through Improved Retail Supply Chain Planning

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:06:00 GMT

A significant portion of the $93 billion in lost annual sales due to out-of-stocks—$30 billion—can be attributed to poor planning and forecasting. In response to this challenge, many retailers have made and are making significant investments in advanced forecasting and replenishment planning. These emerging supply chain capabilities are a key enabler to high performance in the competitive retail marketplace.

Major Global Retailer: Streamlining Transportation Operations

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:20:00 GMT

Beginning with a six-month pilot, Accenture assumed the responsibility for the operations and performance measurement and control of the retailer through an outsourced model that covered eight distribution centers dealing with fresh, frozen and grocery products.

Staples: Lean Six Sigma

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:19:00 GMT

Retail giant Staples Inc. is clearly a company that has mastered market focus and position. When Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986, it reshaped an entire industry sector. Today, Staples is the world's largest office products company, with 95,000 associates, operations in 27 countries, and global sales of nearly $27 billion.

Wal-Mart Pulls Further Ahead with Accenture Training Program

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:46:15 GMT

Media Help Subscribe to the Products Client Success Podcast Series Podcast Help

Driving High Performance in the Retail Industry through Strategic Talent Management

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:54:00 GMT

Download the full article—Shopping for Scarce Retail Talent: Driving High Performance in the Retail Industry through Strategic Talent Management [PDF, 760KB] PDF Help

Driving High Performance in the Retail Industry through Strategic Talent Management

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:22:43 GMT

Download the full article—Shopping for Scarce Retail Talent: Driving High Performance in the Retail Industry through Strategic Talent Management [PDF, 760KB] PDF Help

Cotton made in Africa: Corporate Social Responsibility

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:24:00 GMT

The Aid by Trade Foundation was established by Dr. Michael Otto, former CEO of Otto Group, in 2005 to focus on and emphasize Otto Group’s commitment to sustaining global development. An independent venture by Dr. Otto, the foundation’s basic philosophy is “retail trade can help combat poverty.” Otto Group is a leading international trading and services corporation and the parent organization for 123 companies, which all strive to balance their economic, ecological and social responsibilities. With more than 51,000 employees, the group reported revenues of €11.5 billion (approximately US$17.1 billion) in fiscal year 2007-08.

The Fresh Imperative: Creating Excellence in Asian Fresh Food Retailing

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:07:03 GMT

Fresh foods generate critical store traffic and shopping frequency in the Asian market. This study, conducted for the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council Asia by Accenture aimed to identify the future needs and expectations of Asian fresh-food consumers.

Winning Strategies for Uncertain Times: How Retailers Can Achieve High Performance in a Downturn

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:14:00 GMT

Accenture’s most recent global survey of cross-industry consumer sentiment shows that though a clear majority (55 percent) expect their financial situation to improve within the next year, 67 percent also believe it could take up to three years before they are confident enough to spend freely again. Until then, most plan to shop economy stores, avoid premium-priced products, postpone the purchase of big-ticket items, eat out less and wait for a sale rather than buy at the full retail price.

Holiday Shopping Survey 2008: US Results

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:29:03 GMT

Accenture’s annual holiday shopping survey asked 537 US consumers 43 questions about their buying and spending outlook for 2008. The data highlights the challenges facing retailers in the battle for their customer’s dollars during the 2008 holiday shopping period.

Holiday Shopping Survey 2008: US Results

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:27:00 GMT

Building Sustainable Retail Supply Chains

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:57:52 GMT

Today’s multi-polar business world—marked by an increasingly inter-dependent global marketplace—is underscoring the importance of sustainability. Multinationals are increasing their commitment to reducing carbon footprints. Customers are making decisions to favor companies and products that are environmentally and socially responsible.

Retailing in a Global Marketplace to Achieve High Performance

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:30:14 GMT

Leading retailers know and understand their customers exceptionally well. But when it comes to global retailing, the sheer diversity of customers can confuse the best of brands. Success in a global marketplace requires a fine balance of two essential capabilities—a global approach to the business and a local view of the customer. Winning companies view their organization as a single worldwide entity. They build standardized, integrated back-office operations to secure the economies of scale that can handle the complexities of selling in multiple markets. Even more importantly in such a customer facing industry, they take a view of the customer that leverages the core brand and offering in each local marketplace.

Discounters at a Crossroads

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:35:04 GMT

German food discounters are at a crossroads. Their past record of dynamic growth is being slowed by marketplace saturation. Demographic changes are reflected in new and unpredictable consumer preferences. And an increasingly global marketplace—one Accenture terms the multi-polar world—is ushering in foreign competitors to challenge traditional players.

New Growth from Enterprise Systems: How Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail Organizations Achieve High Performance through Distinctive Capabilities

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:37:14 GMT

[PDF, 509KB] PDF Help

Eight Emerging Retail Trends to Deliver High Performance

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:21:35 GMT

It’s easy to grow in good economic times and it’s tempting to pull back when times are tough. But retailers can view downturns as an opportunity to improve their businesses. One place to start is to better understand the trends unfolding today—all in the context of more sophisticated consumers who shop in an expanding global marketplace. By understanding these dynamics and anticipating new ones, retailers can develop ways to differentiate themselves and cultivate distinctive capabilities that help achieve high performance.

Act Now! Customers Are Limited

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:04:42 GMT

[PDF: 176KB] PDF Help