PCSTrac, an innovator in retail software technology solutions, launches in partnership with Urban Outfitters Inc., a leading lifestyle specialty retail company, the next generation of patent-pending StoreTrac software, a web-based inventory control and management application for retail Store Operations.
The enhanced application delivers a store-level snapshot of shipments: volume, category type, as well as key details such as SKU, style, item quantity, item description, and shipment history on forthcoming shipments. Armed with this detailed merchandise data, retail store operations are able to better manage store setup, pre-planning, and labor management to improve operational efficiency.
All Urban Outfitters Inc. brands are using the StoreTrac visibility solution, including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People -- approximately 430 stores.
Urban Outfitters saw an opportunity to integrate item level detail from the WMS with PCSTrac shipment visibility. Prior to the latest release of StoreTrac, Urban Outfitters could only view cartons by category. Together, PCSTrac and Urban Outfitters developed an innovative inventory management tool that increases supply chain visibility and drives store labor cost reductions.
"We have been searching for better visibility into inbound product shipments so each store could plan their business more efficiently. PCS has provided us everything that we were looking for and changed the way we look at in-store receiving!" said Travis Serpa, Senior Operations Manager, Urban Outfitters Inc.
StoreTrac's web-based reporting tools allow retail store managers to print reports at the store level to see exactly what is coming into the store. A SKU search function provides visibility to cartons in transit and allows store personnel to see what items are on their way.
"Our stores tell me that they 'totally love' the enhanced StoreTrac visibility and planning tool. It's easy to use, contains invaluable merchandise data, and is a vast improvement from our previous process," said Joel Martin Cox, Transportation Supervisor, Urban Outfitters Inc. Joel continued, "Store personnel are now able to provide forward-looking product information to customers that request specific items that aren't currently in stock."
Chandra Allred, Chief Operating Officer, PCSTrac, commented: "It's been an exciting opportunity to collaborate with Urban Outfitters to advance StoreTrac to the next level. It is gratifying to know that their store operations and visual team benefit every day from better upstream visibility and have more robust tools to plan receiving."
PCSTrac is based in Philadelphia and provides supply chain automation and visibility solutions for leading retailers such as the Gap; Bed, Bath and Beyond; Urban Outfitters; and Under Armour.
