The NRF CIO Council and the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) announces the release of the Warehouse Management Request for Proposal (RFP), the fifth in a series. RFPs assist retailers in selecting the "right" software applications for their specific business processes. NRF and ARTS Standard RFPs are provided in a form and format to allow retailers to easily tailor them to their specific needs.
Retailers use Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) as a tool to manage and control the processes in a retailer's logistics operation, including: warehousing, cross docking, yard management, order picking, shipping and RTV processing. Warehouse Management Systems are traditionally integrated with ERP suites and merchandise management systems and are a key link in an efficient supply chain. When effective, these applications add lost dollars back to the bottom line through improved efficiencies in the warehouse.
"Warehouse management systems interface with critical systems such as purchase order management and merchandise tracking and reporting, so they require a high degree of integration," noted Larry Buresh, SVP and CIO of CSK Auto Corporation and ARTS Board member. "The Standard RFP for WMS enables retailers to choose not just the right system for their needs, but one that will require only minimal programming changes if it incorporates ARTS standards."
The RFP presents a comprehensive list of features and functions that retailers, based on experience, have found valuable in attaining their objectives. Some of the RFP features address: existing databases, Inventory and Item data, handheld devices, and networks for receiving alert messages and for exporting reports and other documents.
The Warehouse Management RFP was developed by a committee of retailers, vendors and consultants from documents used by multiple retailers to select their workforce management applications. The committee, chaired by Ann McCool of RadioShack, included members from BearingPoint, Clicks and Mortar Consulting, CSK Auto, Manhattan Associates, Protiviti Consulting, QPOS, RadioShack and Target.
"It's not often that such a diverse team of retailers, consultants and software vendors can come together for such a purpose," said David Landau, Senior Director, Retail Solutions, for Manhattan Associates. "By bringing so many different perspectives and experiences to the project, we were able to deliver a high quality tool that will save considerable time for retailers beginning the process of WMS selection."
NRF and ARTS RFPs are available free to members at www.nrf.com or www.nrf-arts.org/. RFPs are available for purchase by non-members for $5,000.
In addition to the five RFPs now available for download (POS, Workforce Management, Loss Prevention, Signature Capture/Online-Offline Debit Devices and now Warehouse Management Systems), ARTS and NRF are developing RFPs for Merchandise and Price Optimization software that will be released by the end of the year.
The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) is an international membership organization dedicated to reducing the costs of technology through standards. Since 1993, ARTS has been delivering application standards exclusively to the retail industry. ARTS has three standards: The Standard Relational Data Model, UnifiedPOS and IXRetail. Membership is open to all members of the international technology community- retailers from all industry segments, application developers and hardware companies. www.nrf-arts.org/.
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 23 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2004 sales of $4.1 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations. www.nrf.com/.
