Supply chain solutions company, JDA Software Group. has highlighted its continued momentum in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, spurred by a strong performance in 2011. Despite unsettled European business conditions, a volatile global financial market, and evolving consumer spending habits, JDA has achieved significant milestones that include increased adoption of JDA solutions, new alliance agreements, and the opening of a new office in Moscow.
Customer Growth
Over the last year, JDA has witnessed rapid adoption of its supply chain solutions across EMEA, adding more than 60 new customers and expanding its supply chain solution footprint with existing customers. Recent wins and existing customers within the EMEA region include organisations such as Dohle Handelsgruppe, Fromageries Bel, Gloria Jeans, Lenta, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, Marks & Spencer, Metro Cash & Carry Germany, Poundland Limited, Shoprite Checkers (PTY) Ltd., Tata Steel Europe, Woolworths South Africa, and X5.
Supply Chain Challenges in EMEA
Supply chain challenges in the EMEA region are best understood when analysed in the context of the retail and manufacturing industries and their impact on each other. The retail industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by macro-economic factors as well as the newly empowered consumer profile. The new consumer has more knowledge than ever before, is demonstrating different buying behaviors, and is constantly connected through multiple-channels such as online, social media and mobile devices.
Manufacturers are challenged to respond to demand volatility driven by a consumer that they do not always have direct contact with. Their constant battle is to profitably balance volatile demand with uncertain supply. Moreover, the supply base for these manufacturing companies has moved toward low-cost supply countries, complicating the uncertainty they must contend with.
"Retailers and manufacturers are grappling with how to sustain operating margins while driving revenue growth in the face of inflationary pressure on operating and sourcing costs, and deflationary pressure brought on by consumer expectations," said Razat Gaurav, senior vice president, Europe, Middle East, Africa, JDA Software. "The result is an economic climate that is providing the impetus for shareholders and executive boards to drive supply chain transformations within their organizations now. This time of economic uncertainty is also a time for driving change in organizations so that they come through this challenging time stronger than ever before."
A video featuring Razat Gaurav describing the emerging challenges and opportunities faced by Russian businesses from a supply chain perspective can be view by clicking here.
New Russian Office
In January 2012, JDA opened its first office in the Russian Federation to meet the growing demand for its supply chain and retail solutions and services in the region. Located in Moscow, the office serves JDA customers and prospects in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus.
"With the knowledge gained from our 6,000 supply chain customers globally, combined with the local expertise of our JDA associates, we are excited to work together with our strategic alliance associates to create supply chain efficiencies in the Russian market," said Gaurav.
Upcoming EMEA Events
JDA is hosting a series of JDA Innovation Forums across the EMEA region where attendees will be able to learn the latest business trends and best practices from leading companies and gain industry insights into consumer connected supply chain. For more information on these and other JDA events, click here.
"Last year was a fantastic year for JDA in EMEA as we continued to see tremendous interest and demand throughout the region," said Gaurav, who credits the company's employees and its alliance associates with the success in the region. "EMEA continues to represent an area of significant growth for the company. This region features many organizations that are looking for the best way to transform their supply chain processes, and we believe we have the right combination of industry-leading knowledge, solutions and services to meet this growing demand and accelerate JDA's momentum in EMEA."
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