Companies On The Move
Each year, Consumer Goods Technology compiles a list of those IT innovators that -- while they did not make our Readers' Choice list -- deserve to be recognized for big customer wins, unique technology tools and continued dedication to the consumer goods market. Companies profiled last year such as Eleven Technology, Agile Software and Checkpoint Systems have moved up into the Readers' Choice Top 10 and Top 5 rankings in 2006, paving the way for a new generation of technology providers to become "Companies on the Move". The following list is a mix of new companies, well-established firms and niche providers that all have one thing in common -- they have the potential and drive to land a coveted spot on our Readers' Choice lists next time around.
Newcomers
These new entries into the competitive consumer goods technology market offer innovative technology tools and services intended to address emerging challenges and trends. Their ability to deliver will determine their success.
M-Factor [www.m-factor.com]
M-Factor is helping consumer goods companies like Coca-Cola and General Mills improve their Marketing ROI with a next generation marketing planning solution. This new software service, called M3, allows marketers to develop and track execution of marketing plans at all levels (strategic, brand, channel, major account, etc.) It offers a combination of forward-looking analytics, simulation and optimization in a flexible and easy-to-use planning application.
ON THE MOVE: Georgia-Pacific's Tissue division recently adopted M3 to answer complex planning questions such as where to focus incremental marketing spending and how to optimize brand portfolio profit.
Optiant [www.optiant.com]
Optiant's PowerChain suite of solutions optimize the bottom-line performance of supply chains through the effective balance of cost, supply and demand variability, and service levels. Optiant's Consumer Packaged Goods Solution is designed to proactively address intense competition, retail consolidation, marketing efficiency and the need to strengthen customer relationships.
ON THE MOVE: Optiant was chosen by Manufacturing Business Technology as one of the "Top 40 Emerging Software Vendors" in the October 2005 issue.
T3Ci [www.t3ci.com]
T3Ci delivers EPC analysis used to interpret and analyze live EPC production data as a service for many retail suppliers. According to Steve Rehling, director of IT and head of RFID systems for Procter & Gamble, T3Ci "demonstrated a clear understanding of how to eventually get value from EPC data across the supply chain. T3Ci has provided us with extraordinarily high levels of customer service and we continue to be impressed with their insights and innovations."
ON THE MOVE: In addition to P&G, Unilever and HP are working with T3Ci to get business value from RFID data.
Tableau Software [www.tableausoftware.com]
CPG companies have data - lots of data. Tableau helps people of any technical ability to analyze data and get answers quickly. The company's "visual analysis" products enable the transformation of raw data into decisions using a drag and drop process that creates vivid, interactive visualizations. By analyzing data visually, users can spot trends, outliers and relationships more quickly, leading to better insights.
ON THE MOVE: PC Magazine named Tableau Software "Best of 2005" in the category of data analysis software.
Expanding Operations
The following companies are expanding their customer base, building onto products and services and/or attaining new functionality through acquisitions.
AquiTec [www.AquiTecIntl.com]
AquiTec provides operational and collaborative supply chain management (SCM) systems to wholesalers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers in the food distribution business. The company collaborates with its clients to design, develop and implement web-based collaborative modules in data pool synchronization, trade promotion management, trade funds management and collaborative perishable management, which integrate with back-end procurement, billing and warehouse management systems.
ON THE MOVE: Associated Wholesale Grocers won CGT's 2005 Collaborative Retail Partner award for its work with General Mills using AquiTec's collaborative solution.
AcquireX [www.acquirex.com]
As a provider of "on-demand" e-procurement services, AcquireX specializes in helping its customers drive unit cost savings on direct and indirect purchases with a broad set of procurement-related services. AcquireX currently has more than 15,000 subscribers accessing more than 1 million SKUs in its supplier network. Sealy Inc. chose AcquireX's e-procurement solution iBuy as the standard for purchasing direct goods. iBuy tightly integrates purchasing with Sealy's existing technology infrastructure and MRP solutions.
ON THE MOVE: Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine named AcquireX to the "Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100" for the second year in a row.
CRC [www.crcivr.com]
CRC's on-line software toolset, VelociTRACKER, and certified business consultants add value to the entire supply chain by helping companies to use consumer demand information, RFID, POS and synchronized data to build, measure, manage and maximize objectives and programs that increase case volume and sell through on a massive scale. CRC helps these companies to execute the above objectives by using tracking and data collection systems via PDA, Web and telephone input. CRC implemented more than 7,500 handheld computers, and serves 800 companies; 2,500 managers; 80,000 field reps; and 300,000 retail locations every month.
ON THE MOVE: CRC's tools provide more than $1 million annually in ROI to clients such as Mattel, Lego Systems, American Greetings, Werner Ladder and Lowe's.
Frieghtquote.com [www.freightquote.com]
As transportation costs and complexity continue to rise, getting products to market in a timely and economical manner has become more important than ever. Freightquote.com helps to simplify freight shipping by providing instant comparisons from more than 50 carriers in the United States, Canada and the U.K. The user-friendly, online tool automates everything from carrier selection to pricing, pickups, documents and tracking.
ON THE MOVE: Freightquote.com powers eBay's Freight Calculator function and helps Wham-O manage its freight transportation. The company has been recognized in the Inc500 and Entrepreneur Hot 100 listings.
Infor [www.infor.com]
For non-durable consumer packaged goods companies, the issues of working with extremely tight margins, handling demanding customers and managing the increasing velocity of SKUs are compounded by unique manufacturing challenges. Infor looks to counter these challenges by offering a series of solutions, including Supply Chain Management, Performance Management, ERP, Financials, Warehouse Management and eCommerce. Infor's client roster touts H.J. Heinz, Valvoline and New Balance.
ON THE MOVE: Infor plans to acquire Datastream and its Asset Performance Management solutions to address a key business need among its customers and target markets.
Inovis [www.inovis.com]
Inovis is a provider of business-to-business solutions for global trading relationships. The company enables collaborative business processes and solves the complete B2B integration challenge for more than 20,000 customers and their trading partners. Inovis' comprehensive line of B2B software and managed services help companies speed transaction flows, synchronize product information and improve supply chain processes.
ON THE MOVE: During 2005, Inovis successfully integrated QRS to strengthen its position in the retail and consumer goods arena. Inovis' customers include Perry Ellis International, Federated Department Stores and Modell's.
Ironbridge Software Inc. [www.ibsw.com]
In addition to data warehousing and consulting services, Ironbridge offers Net-Bench business intelligence software that integrates external consumer data with internal data sources for competitive analysis, promotion analysis and business planning. Results are readily accessible and can be integrated into Excel, PowerPoint or other programs to prepare marketing reports and sales presentations.
ON THE MOVE: A major consumer goods company selected Ironbridge to build an internal web-based application that identifies growth opportunities using panel data to model consumer behavior.
Lowry Computer Products [www.lowrycomputer.com]
Lowry Computer Products Inc. describes itself as a synergistic organization made up of manufacturing, systems integration and technical services that enabling it to provide complete wireless, RFID-EPC, bar code and data collection solutions. As a Founding Solution Provider of EPCglobal and a member of AIM Global, the organization for Automatic Identification and Mobility, Lowry is committed to furthering the development of RFID technology.
ON THE MOVE: Lowry Computer Products is now offering OTA Training's vendor-neutral, RFID training and certification programs at its new RFID Laboratory located at its corporate office in Brighton, Michigan.
SATO America [www.satoamerica.com]
SATO America offers a variety of industrial-strength barcode printers for mission-critical requirements throughout the consumer goods manufacturing process. SATO printers, along with SATO barcode and smart labels, help provide reliable, high-quality printing in the harsh environments. From tracking raw materials to improving materials, distribution and logistics planning, SATO's solutions aim to save time, reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve productivity.
ON THE MOVE: SATO will purchase Checkpoint Systems' Bar Code Systems (BCS) businesses with operations in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, including its hand-held labeling solutions in the United States.
A Renewed Focus
These companies expanded their scope to target the consumer goods industry -- and in some cases have done nothing short of reinventing themselves -- to ensure they provide the market with tools that enable success.
ANTs Software [www.ants.com]
ANTs software inc. develops data management software that is compatible with all popular databases. The company's mission is to help customers reduce hardware, software and development costs by providing database price performance. Its first product, the ANTs Data Server, is a high-performance SQL database management system that is fully standards compliant. It claims to be less expensive than any of the systems that it is trying to replace, including Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase or MySQL.
ON THE MOVE: During the quarter ended December 31, 2005, ANTs raised $4.7 million through a private offering and warrant exercises, closing its fiscal year with more than $6 million.
C3i [www.c3i-inc.com]
In 1993, C3i started as a specialized sales force automation vendor, but has since evolved into a service provider for customer management integration and ongoing support solutions to science organizations such as Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. C3i is organized around three distinct -- yet tightly integrated -- service lines: Consulting and Systems Integration, End-User Support and Managed Services and Field Effectiveness.
ON THE MOVE: In October C3i opened its European Operations Center in Sofia, Bulgaria, for business and has since conducted customer support calls from 20 pharmaceutical clients. The new facility complements operations in the United States and India.
DemandTec [www.demandtec.com]
Intense competition and private label growth are just two of the many challenges that can delay a consumer goods company's quest to grow market share. Consumer products companies are turning to DemandTec to help them model and optimize future or proposed trade promotions and price strategies in a systematic and repeatable manner. The DemandTec 5 suite for consumer products manufacturers is built on a common Consumer Demand Management platform, providing a single version of the truth leveraged by multiple applications.
ON THE MOVE: Giant Eagle and Safeway Inc. are just two of twelve retailers that will leverage DemandTec software into 2006. Look to some of their suppliers to choose DemandTec into 2006.
Information Resources Inc. [www.infores.com]
Information Resources Inc. (IRI) provides enterprise market information solutions and services to the consumer goods industry. Symphony Technology Group's acquisition of IRI acted as the catalyst for an IRI transformation that included a $300-million investment in MarketKnowledge, a grid computing architecture intended to deliver a completely new class of Business Performance Management solutions. Today, IRI provides software and professional services to 95 percent of the Fortune Global 500 in consumer goods and retail.
ON THE MOVE: IRI deployed the Costco Collaborative Retail Exchange (CRX) program across Costco's major food and non-food departments in the United States, which allows manufacturers to access and utilize Costco's data in a structured, collaborative framework.
StayinFront [www.stayinfront.com]
Originally a vendor to the pharmaceutical industry, StayinFront Inc. now provides enterprise-wide Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications, analytics, decision support tools and data services to the CG industry. Its flagship product has proven scalability for large groups of remote, field-based users. Part of its appeal with CG firms can be attributed to its flexibility and architecture that enables rapid configuration and deployment across multiple platforms.
ON THE MOVE: CG organizations globally are using StayinFront CRM to enhance relationships with retailers, track and measure sales rep and merchandiser performance, and monitor competitor activity.
Outside the Box
These companies have an undeniable strong-hold over the consumer goods industry as niche providers.
Bay Street Solutions [www.baystreetsolutions.com]
Bay Street Solutions is a privately-held, business consulting firm that specializes in helping clients to maximize the value within Siebel's eBusiness suite. Bay Street provides services such as full life-cycle implementations, application upgrades, program management and release planning. Nike, Tilia and Binney & Smith all consulted Bay Street to help develop CRM blueprints and implement Siebel technology.
ON THE MOVE: Since 1996, Bay Street has helped to deliver more than 90 successful Siebel implementations to enterprise and mid-market companies.
FullTilt [www.fulltilt.com]
In the report "Product Information Management Leaders Emerge", Forrester Research recognizes FullTilt's Perfect Product Suite solution as the No. 1 ranking among 17 product information management (PIM) solutions. For consumer goods companies, The Perfect Product Suite provides a Master Data Management for Products solution to aggregate, create and manage product data from disparate internal and external sources, and then enhance, extend and synchronize it with trading partners to increase market share.
ON THE MOVE: McCain Foods leverages FullTilt's I-Accel collaborative product information management (CPIM) software to achieve data synchronization and standardized product information across six continents.
JRG [www.jrg.com]
Designed to allow manufacturers to build-to-consumption, JRG offers production scheduling solutions. JRG Factory Scheduler and JRG Performance Manager help customers like Ghirardelli Chocolate, See's Candies and Wise Foods deliver on-time to retailers, while minimizing production and inventory carrying costs. "With JRG, we have dramatically improved the day-to-day scheduling of our operations. This reduced our costs while improving customer satisfaction," says Dr. Manuel Wildberger, VP of Operations, Ghirardelli.
ON THE MOVE: This year, JRG was named to Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine's "Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100".
Planalytics Inc. [www.planalytics.com]
As competition increases and margins get tighter, companies are turning to business intelligence and analytics as a means to stay one step ahead of the competition. Planalytics provides business weather intelligence to enable manufacturers proactively manage the effects of weather on their supply chain. From pre-season planning and scheduling to in-season distribution, promotional timing and historical analysis, Planalytics applications help support its clients' business.
ON THE MOVE: Campbell Soup Company, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Sunbeam and Nestle Waters leverage Planalytics' business weather intelligence.
Prodika [www.prodika.com]
Prodika helps global consumer goods companies accelerate innovation by enabling them to create, manage and collaborate globally on info related to product design, development and introduction; global product specifications; and packaging. By streamlining product development operations, Prodika can help organizations reduce time-to-market for new products; maximize supplier relationships; manage quality, safety and regulatory requirements; reduce cost of goods sold; and optimize return on R&D and new product investments.
ON THE MOVE: Prodika supports PLM implementations in the companies like Heinz, while enabling SMBs to leverage Prodika's On-Demand PLM solutions.
TDLinx [www.tdlinx.com]
TDLinx is a player in location information management (LIM) and is recognized as the universally accepted store, outlet and account coding structure and source of retail/on-premise channel information. With TDLinx Codes, consumer goods manufacturers can aggregate to a customer view, integrate disparate data and activity, communicate on a code-to-code basis, and evaluate in any frame of reference with a systematic and repeatable process. TDLinx provides universal coverage of more than 650,000 locations, 11,000 accounts and up to five layers of account hierarchy.
ON THE MOVE: Wrigley, Future Brands and St. Michelle all joined the TDLinx Network of clients in 2005.
Zilliant [www.zilliant.com]
With its strategic pricing applications, Zilliant provides software and services that help companies to define and manage pricing for improved financial results. The Zilliant Pricing Suite is a full solution for Price Analytics, Price Execution and Price Modeling that aim to maximize revenue and margins through optimized segmentation, precision price setting, effective discount guidelines, successful price promotions, etc.
ON THE MOVE:: Zilliant received all-around high marks in the categories of Price Optimization, Execution and Analysis from The Yankee Group.