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To remain competitive, retailers must increase supply to offer diverse products to savvy consumers while still keeping costs low and increasing profit margins.

Expert project management techniques will help retailers:

• Streamline and manage the supply chain to ensure quality products are delivered for the lowest cost, at the right time and at the right store
• Develop a robust IT infrastructure to handle all aspects of retailing from supply chain management to customer service
• Increase and maintain an Internet presence through easy-to-use, customer-centric e-commerce sites

Streamlining the Supply Chain

Today's global marketplace has provided retailers with a unique opportunity to seek out the best and most diverse merchandise for the lowest costs. This new global supply chain, however, requires expert management strategies throughout the retail process, from sourcing products or overseeing manufacturing to final shelving and delivery to consumers.

Retail professionals are reassessing their standard operating procedures to uncover new ways to save time, money and manpower. Many companies are working closely with suppliers. Other retailers are outsourcing their supply chains to increase their buying power to give them preferred customer status and penalize their vendors for delays. In addition, companies are looking internally to see if they can reconfigure plant setups, streamline manufacturing procedures, tweak procurement methods or devise better delivery systems. Project management will help map out tasks, define clear milestones, monitor progress and follow clear schedules and budgets. This set plan will help streamline the supply chain and increase revenue through speedier product delivery at lower costs.

Building a Robust IT Infrastructure

According to the technology intelligence and industry analysis firm IDC, retailers spent $23.7 billion on information technology projects in 2002. Many retailers have discovered that the best way to cut overhead and still maintain high levels of customer service is to build a strong IT infrastructure that can support myriad new technologies. By using new customer-checkout systems or automated manufacturing, accounting and logistics applications, retailers can deliver merchandise more frequently and quickly to stores in the right quantities.

IT in retail is a strategic enabler, using technology to generate new revenue. These new technologies create enterprise-wide information availability, streamline the supply chain, assist with merchandise management and CRM implementation and facilitate e-business strategies. As in any large-scale IT project, expert project management skills will reduce development costs by ensuring that products have clear success criteria, realistic budgets and adequate resources assigned.

Developing User-Friendly Web sites

According to industry studies, 2002 online holiday sales were up 23% versus the previous year. Online sales rose by almost half in the fourth quarter of 2002, bringing the yearly e-commerce sales total to $48 billion, a third more than in the previous year. Although brick-and-mortar stores still bring in the majority of the revenue for most retailers, a strong presence on the Internet will help struggling retailers tap into this large and ever-growing market of consumers.

A well-maintained and user-friendly Web site will also enable retailers to reach worldwide customers that might have been unable to shop at actual stores. These sites also give retailers an additional opportunity to provide valuable customer service - through features like automated order status information or online returns and exchanges. Launching and maintaining effective, timely e-business sites requires expert planning and detailed business analysis. These project management techniques will help retailers understand the financial aspects of these large-scale e-commerce projects and target the right customers to ensure a strong return on investment.

Learn Proven Techniques from the Leader in Project Management

ESI International understands the unique needs of managers operating in the retail industry. With more than 20 years of experience and a world-class project management curriculum, we can help you increase your competitive edge. We have helped many retail companies, such as Circuit City, Office Depot and Target Corporation, improve performance in their operations worldwide.

ESI has the largest and most comprehensive repertoire of solutions to transition a company's culture to one that is driven by project profitability. We will help your company identify the issues affecting financial performance and develop a means for tracking how project management can impact your bottom line. From there we will develop a custom solution that may include classroom training, e-training, executive workshops, mentoring and consulting.

ESI is a global company, working for a wide variety of clients around the world. We can support your company no matter where your offices are located, bringing our instructors and consultants to your site. Our experience with companies of all sizes gives us a unique insight into how organizations can benefit from effective project management processes.

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