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Tag: Manhattan Associates

Retailers Must Master Christmas Supply Chain Challenges

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Christmas supply chain challenges are critical, say Manhattan Associates. With the holiday season here, savvy shoppers are hunting for the best deals, putting pressure on retail bottom lines. Manhattan Associates’ 2024 Supply Chain Confidence Survey reveals that 93% of consumers report feeling the pinch due to cost of living and actively hunting for bargains. This presents a challenge, but also a chance for retailers to connect with value-conscious shoppers and increase sales this Christmas.

Where businesses stand today

Manhattan’s survey further reveals that 70% of retail leaders anticipate higher holiday costs this year, while 60% of consumers plan to buy fewer gifts and 57% are actively seeking less expensive options.

This shift in consumer behaviour demands a new level of business agility: retailers must move quickly to adapt to this new environment, offering value-driven deals and frictionless shopping experiences, both online and in-store. As Martin Lockwood, Senior Director at Manhattan Associates, points out, “Even the most seasoned retailers are kept on their toes by shifting shopping habits. Aligning inventory and fulfilment operations with changing behaviours is crucial.”

Tech-savvy retailers take the lead

However, it’s not all gloom and doom. Many retailers are embracing technology and building more resilient supply chain networks capable to adapting to fast-paced behavioural change. The survey highlights that 52% of supply chain leaders are investing in improved logistics software, while 61% of retail leaders report recent investments in new technologies to improve supply chain efficiency. Automation (35%) and AI (80%) are also playing a key role in optimising operations and meeting consumer demand.

According to Lockwood, proactive planning is paramount. “Businesses are prioritising readiness and flexibility to navigate unforeseen challenges and maximise holiday sales opportunities”, he continues. “Focusing on a long-term, resilient digital core and establishing robust relationships with suppliers is essential for sustained success. Inventory visibility and unified planning and execution capabilities are tactics essential for mitigating possible holiday season disruptions. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. Through investment in long-term supply chain strategies, retailers can position themselves for sustained success in the year ahead.”

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Warehouses Struggle to Forecast Demand

 

Manhattan Showcases Latest Supply Chain Commerce Innovations

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Building on the theme, ‘Make the impossible, possible’, Manhattan Associates opened its annual EMEA Exchange event to an audience of more than 300 customers and press, with keynotes that introduced the European market to Manhattan Active® Supply Chain Planning and Generative AI solutions; Manhattan Active® Maven and Manhattan Assist.

“It is great to be back in Barcelona with a record number of supply chain and commerce professionals. Attending Exchange gives participants a unique opportunity to explore and interact with peers and get a first-hand look at the latest technologies shaping the future of supply chain and commerce,” commented Henri Seroux, senior vice president, Europe, Manhattan Associates.

“With real-world insights from customers including ba&sh, Yusen Logistics, Lacoste and Co-op, amongst others, in addition to cutting-edge technology discussions from Manhattan’s senior leaders, Eddie Capel and Brian Kinsella, there is something for everyone attending this year’s edition,” Seroux continued.

Highlights from the annual event included:

• Schneider Electric, the global leader in energy management and automation, explained how it plans to make its supply chain a competitive differentiator through the unification of its warehouse and transportation functions with Manhattan.
• Bestseller, one of Europe’s leading fashion companies, showcased how it is transforming its supply chain through a strategic partnership with Manhattan. The company highlighted the challenges faced, the need for change, and the collaborative approach taken to implement Manhattan Active Supply Chain.
• L’Oréal described the final stages of its Manhattan deployment and shared how it is leveraging Manhattan Active® Warehouse Management’s full potential to optimise operations and integrate seamlessly into the data-driven world of Beauty Tech
• Kramp, the leading supplier of spare parts in Europe’s agricultural space, guided the audience through the pivotal role Manhattan Active® Omni is playing in its digital transformation journey.
• The introduction of Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning completes the company’s vision of a truly unified supply chain ecosystem, while Manhattan Active Maven and Manhattan Assist harness the power of GenAI to deliver new levels of customer experience, personalization, productivity, and cost-savings.

Seroux finished: “These latest solutions underline that Manhattan is not just closing the gaps in supply chain commerce, it’s delivering the vision of a unified supply chain, raising the bar for the whole industry and reaffirming a reputation for innovation spanning more than three decades.”

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Manhattan Associates Transforms Retail Returns

 

Experts Say Outdated IT Infrastructure is Holding You Back

Posted on by Will Priestman

A recent study from Manhattan Associates suggests outdated IT infrastructure is holding you back. 97% of supply chain professionals believe their IT infrastructure needs modernisation, highlighting a significant risk for businesses failing to keep up with industry demands. Outdated IT infrastructure in supply chain operations not only hinders growth but also affects overall competitiveness.

As technology advances rapidly, many businesses struggle to keep their IT systems up to date. This lag in IT modernisation can stifle innovation, increase costs, and create operational inefficiencies. Manhattan Associates research sheds light on these challenges and offers key insights into how companies can upgrade their IT infrastructure for supply chain success.

Why IT Modernisation is Critical

Warehouses have evolved far beyond simple storage spaces; they now serve as strategic hubs for managing complex supply chain processes. From inventory management to real-time data analysis, a robust IT infrastructure is essential for maintaining efficient and scalable operations. According to Manhattan’s ‘State of Warehouse Operations’ report, outdated IT hardware ranks as the biggest challenge in the industry.

Failing to modernise IT systems leads to inefficiencies, higher operational costs, and difficulties in scaling operations to meet growing demands. Additionally, legacy systems expose businesses to security risks as outdated software becomes vulnerable to breaches, which could damage a company’s reputation and bottom line.

IT modernisation for supply chain

The Dangers of Outdated IT Infrastructure: Learning from the NHS

A high-profile example of the risks posed by outdated IT systems is the NHS, which has faced significant operational challenges due to its aging infrastructure. The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which targeted the NHS’s outdated systems, disrupted services across the UK and highlighted the critical need for IT upgrades. The lesson here is clear: businesses that fail to modernise risk severe disruptions, operational setbacks, and even reputational damage.

The NHS example highlights the broader implications of failing to invest in modern IT systems. As software ages and support ends, critical data becomes vulnerable, and organisations face reputational damage alongside operational setbacks. For warehouses, the lesson is clear: delaying IT modernisation can lead to similarly severe consequences, with inefficiencies, rising costs, and the inability to scale or adapt to evolving market demands.

 

The Business Case for IT Modernisation in Warehouses

With 79% of businesses acknowledging the urgent need for IT upgrades in their supply chain operations, the message is clear—modernisation is essential. A well-integrated, up-to-date IT infrastructure creates a data-driven, connected ecosystem that optimises warehouse operations. This includes everything from real-time inventory tracking to analytics that help reduce stockouts and optimize space.

Unified systems enable seamless communication, resulting in faster order fulfillment, on-time deliveries, and higher customer satisfaction. Additionally, adopting automation and robotics helps streamline workflows, allowing human workers to focus on more complex, value-added tasks. Moreover, the data insights gained from modern IT systems empower better decision-making, enabling businesses to swiftly adapt to changing demands and market trends.

In a competitive landscape, modernising IT infrastructure is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. The sooner businesses act, the better positioned they will be to navigate the future of supply chain management.

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NHS Supply Chain: Bids for Logistics Services Provider

Gregory Distribution Scales Up Operations with Manhattan

Posted on by David Priestman

As supply chains and logistics becomes ever-more complex, companies increasingly need agile technology providers that can help them navigate challenges and meet the continuously evolving expectations of the end customer.

To meet the soaring demand for bespoke customer experiences, Gregory Distribution, one of the UK’s top independent logistics businesses, has chosen Manhattan SCALE, from Manhattan Associates, to optimise its warehouse operations and deliver improved satisfaction to its 400+ customers.

Renowned for its comprehensive range of transport, warehousing, and 3PL services across the Southwest and throughout the entire country, Gregory sought a solution that could match its commitment to growth and innovation with its customers. Manhattan’s flexible, configurable SCALE solution proved to be the ideal fit, enabling Gregory to adapt instantly to evolving customer needs, delivering personalised services that set the company apart in a competitive market.

It also allowed the company to operate with unparalleled efficiency through seamless integration. Manhattan’s SCALE solution blends effortlessly into Gregory’s existing ecosystem, creating a streamlined, feature-rich experience the end-user. Gregory has also been able to prioritise growth. With technology taken care of the team can focus on what matters most: driving business expansion by delivering exceptional logistics outcomes for its customers.

Liam Jordan-Martin, Head of Technology at Gregory Group says, “Our recent business growth demanded a scalable solution and a partner with proven expertise. Manhattan Associates exceeded our expectations, offering both a robust platform and leading industry knowledge. Manhattan SCALE’s configurability empowers our teams to respond swiftly to customer needs, while seamless integration with our existing systems ensures ongoing operational harmony. With Manhattan’s support, we’re confident in our ability to adapt, innovate and continue exceeding customer expectations.”

“Our technology provides the agility needed to thrive in today’s demanding market and we are thrilled to be part of Gregory Distribution’s ongoing journey towards logistics excellence,” commented Craig Summers, MD UK/VP Northern Europe & MEA, at Manhattan Associates. “With our 90-day innovation cycles, SCALE will continue to deliver on the exacting requirements of Liam’s team and their customers, long into the future.”

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Gregory Distribution acquires Shepton Mallet distribution company

 

Staff Retention and Tech Issues for Warehouse Operations

Posted on by David Priestman

Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) today announced the findings of its 2024 ‘State of Warehouse Operations’ research in association with Vanson Bourne, highlighting the current challenges and key opportunities ahead for the sector. The full report can be read here.

As the global economy continues to recalibrate after a series of macro-economic and geopolitical events shook it to its core, procurement and supply chain professionals continue to face unique challenges. From labour retention and engagement and environmental concerns to technological advancements, raw material shortages, and the challenge presented by elevated consumer expectations across a myriad of channels, the forces shaping supply chain commerce are strong and varied.

Vanson Bourne interviewed 2,000 supply chain professionals in Spring 2024 across Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Respondents included both senior management and operational staff, and came from the manufacturing and production, logistics, pharmaceuticals, retail, automotive and CPG sectors.

In terms of the overriding challenges, almost all respondents (97%) believe their warehouse operations IT infrastructure requires at least some modernisation. 84% reported facing difficulties with staff retention, while 73% said the volume of goods passing through warehouses had increased over the past 12 months, exacerbating the problems they were already facing.

However, organisations also remained hopeful about the future, with 75% and 72% expecting Generative AI and robotics (respectively) to play a positive role in improving job satisfaction and functions, through reducing manual operations/increasing automation, and by streamlining workflows and reducing paperwork. As organisations look at ways to simplify operations, meet increased demand and enhance staff experiences, continuous supply chain innovation will be required to tackle emerging risks, while taking full advantage of new opportunities simultaneously.

Below are three key takeaways from the report aimed at helping supply chain professionals to plan a path to future successes:

1. Warehouse operations are becoming more challenging for organisations and ensuring staff feel listened to, engaged and valued is important. A sizeable number of respondents cited staff-related challenges including recruiting/training short-term workers (41%) and ensuring productivity (40%) have grown significantly over the last 12 months.
2. 28% of organisations surveyed highlighted that outdated IT hardware and software was the most pressing challenge they are currently facing. That adds up to a significant amount of fiscal and technological drag for almost a one in three of the companies surveyed.
3. 26% of respondents said they are struggling to manage orders from different channels while 23% said that they were finding it difficult to meet heightened customer expectations on turnaround times.

Henri Seroux, Senior Vice President, EMEA at Manhattan Associates commented: “Warehouses are at the heart of a unified supply chain and centre of the fulfilment universe. Tackling the challenges highlighted in the report are key to the long-term competitiveness and success of companies. The findings underline the importance of looking forward and continuing to incorporate new technologies like micro services and Generative AI, future-proofing supply chains and allowing them to become revenue and customer service drivers in their own right.

“Ultimately, a more unified supply chain strategy creates efficiency, and that in turn creates sustainability, both in terms of economics and environment. And that can only be a good thing for P&Ls as well as the planet,” Seroux finished.

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Integrated Tech Will Help Solve Driver and Skills Shortages, Says Survey

 

Manhattan Redefines Supply Chain Planning

Posted on by David Priestman

Manhattan Associates has announced Manhattan Active® Supply Chain Planning (SCP), the industry’s first unified business planning platform that enables bi-directional collaboration between supply chain planning and execution systems. This groundbreaking solution enables planners to evaluate all operational factors in real-time, and align all systems, inventory, and resources to a common business objective, such as reducing total landed cost or increasing speed to market.

With traditional supply chain planning, inventory, labour, transportation, and warehouse operations are planned and optimised in isolation. This approach yields fragmented strategies that often conflict with one another and lack feedback from the execution team.

Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning is the first and only solution unified with supply chain execution to eliminate systemic and operational silos, unlocking enterprise-wide optimisation for the entire inventory assortment and all the resources required to flow it through the supply chain. From inventory and labour to distribution and transportation, all elements are synchronised and harmonised in real-time, seamlessly united under a single plan.

“The ability to coordinate with solutions like OMS, WMS and TMS is a gamechanger. Now inventory, labour, and transportation planning can be considered together to ensure the optimal outcome to benefit the organisation as a whole,” said Scott Fenwick, senior director of Product Management for Manhattan Associates. “It simultaneously considers all these factors to smooth operations and deliver exceptional experiences at the lowest cost.”

Supply Chain Planning

Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning harnesses the power of AI to combine external data sources with internal patterns to produce more accurate and actionable demand forecasts. This innovative solution is capable of ingesting and rapidly processing vast amounts of syndicated data from external sources, such as influencer activity, industry-specific data sources, and localised data, all of which can influence and shape demand.

Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning completes the company’s vision of a truly unified supply chain commerce ecosystem. Manhattan is uniquely capable of delivering this fully unified solution because of its technology platform architecture. All Manhattan Active solutions are cloud-native, microservice API applications, engineered to be extensible and evergreen, with regular updates every 90 days. Built on the proven Manhattan Active Platform, Manhattan Active SCP is the most modern, scalable, and adaptable supply chain planning solution on the market.

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Manhattan Associates Named Leader in TMS

Posted on by David Priestman

Manhattan Associates Inc., a global leader in supply chain commerce solutions, has announced it has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems for the sixth consecutive year. Manhattan Active® Transportation Management (TM) also ranks among the three highest ranked vendors in the Level 3 Complexity, Level 4 Complexity and Level 5 Complexity Use Cases in the accompanying Critical Capabilities report.

As supply chains grow in complexity, enterprises are looking to better orchestrate transportation and distribution processes with a unified supply chain execution solution. Industry experts agree that Manhattan’s cloud-native technology architecture and unified supply chain platform distinguishes Manhattan Active TM. This solution breaks down supply chain execution silos to deliver real-time visibility into shipments, offers predictive analytics for better decision-making, delivers the ability to automate manual processes and ultimately eliminates inefficiencies, which can be a game-changer for any company operating in complex and demanding environments.

Leader in TMS

“We are delighted to be recognized by Gartner as a Leader in TMS for the sixth time in a row,” said Bryant Smith, director of Product Management for Manhattan Associates. “Manhattan Active TM is designed to manage every transportation function, across any mode or size of network and leverages advanced intelligence to solve even the largest and most complex transportation challenges.”

Manhattan Active TM can be combined with Manhattan Active Warehouse Management and Manhattan Active Yard Management to provide companies a simplified and unified supply chain execution system that continuously adapts and scales to business needs, and provides a single, comprehensive view of the distribution network, unlocking optimization opportunities that are impossible with traditional siloed offerings.

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Manhattan Transportation Management Selected

 

 

Supply Chain Approaches to Beat Permacrisis

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Manhattan Associates comments on how retailers can adapt and beat major and ongoing supply chain challenges.

The past few years have been tumultuous for retailers and consumers, with the cost-of-living crisis, magnified by inflation and higher interest rates, proving difficult for both parties. Last year, almost 24,000 vessels took the passage linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea, carrying about 12% of global trade and 30% of global container traffic; it also carried 40% of Asia-Europe trade. The Red Sea shipping lanes, along with The Suez and Panama canals, are vital arteries of trade for the entire world.

According to the Kiel Institute, global trade declined by 1.3% from November to December last year as a result of militant attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea; the recent disruption and increasing regional tension in the Middle East is once again a sharp reminder that supply chain resilience should not be taken for granted.

With supply chain disorder showing little sign of abating, brands must learn to adapt to ongoing crises.

Commerce with confidence

Consumers today expect the very best shopping experience, meaning it’s essential that brands are delivering a frictionless customer journey. This is best achieved through the latest technology. “In retail, customers are consistently upping the ante on retailers,” comments Craig Summers, Vice President, Northern Europe & MEA, Manhattan Associates. “When consumers enjoy a new capability offered by one retailer, they expect others to quickly implement a similar experience. Creating a single, seamless customer and associate experience with software that unifies online, mobile, and in-store commerce is vital when providing your teams with more inventory visibility, sales and customer preference data.”

Perfect planning prevents poor performance

And in a constantly evolving, fast-paced environment for brands, creating as many efficiencies as possible allows more adaptability, preventing and mitigating crises. “Applying insights to inventory strategies across every selling channel your brand operates in is absolutely crucial to maximising profits and minimising waste in all its forms – time, money and environmental. Solutions that provide predictive and autonomous optimisation of your global inventory network will benefit P&Ls and the planet, all at the same time,” Summers adds.

Consolidation and execution

Lastly, having a unified solution means brands can respond to issues swiftly – and successfully. Summers continues, “The unification of technology is key to navigating increasingly challenging digital landscapes. By consolidating all distribution, labour, automation, transportation, and yard management in a unified cloud-native solution you can ensure that your supply chain execution continuously adapts and scales to meet your business needs and your business challenges.”

The ‘permacrisis’ won’t, by its nature, go away any time soon. It is therefore essential that, with the right technologies and guidance, businesses build agility and resilience into their supply chain strategies in order to deliver continued efficiency, profitability and continuity in uncertain times – or else risk succumbing to the pressure of ongoing disruption.

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Industry View: A Fresh Approach in Grocery

 

Distribution Operations Transformed with Warehouse Management

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) today announced that Gémo, a leading French footwear and clothing retailer, has chosen Manhattan Active® Warehouse Management (WM) to support its digital transformation journey in response to increased consumer demand for omnichannel and sustainable shopping. The decision will see Manhattan’s leading warehouse management solution deployed in Gémo’s three logistics centres.

Jean-Louis Borde, logistics director of Gémo, commented: “In the retail sector in particular, you need to be able to react to consumer trends fast. In order to support the long-term growth of our business, we recognised the need to make our warehouse operations more agile and responsive to the omnichannel approach adopted by many of our customers.”

“With Manhattan, we have made a long-term investment to support our vision of the future. Being a cloud-native solution, Manhattan Active WM receives updates every 90 days, transparently and without any interruption, meaning we always have access to the latest innovations,” Borde continued. “Trends such as clothing rental and the circular economy are booming in France, and we are confident that with Manhattan Active WM, we have a solution that will enable us to continuously adapt our logistics operations to meet the changing demands of our customers.”

Distribution Operations Transformed

Sébastien Lefébure, vice president, Continental Europe, at Manhattan Associates, added: “We have been supporting the ERAM Group, which is made up of nine affordable fashion brands, including Gémo, in its logistical and omnichannel transformation since 2013. With Manhattan Active WM, Gémo has a solution with the agility and flexibility of cloud-native, microservices IT architecture, capable of meeting the challenges of tomorrow’s customer expectations.”

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The Last WMS You’ll Ever Need to Buy, Promises Manhattan

 

 

 

Manhattan Associates Reports Record Results

Posted on by David Priestman

Leading Supply Chain and Omnichannel Commerce Solutions provider Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) today reported revenue of $238.3 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023. GAAP diluted earnings per share for Q4 2023 was $0.78 compared to $0.60 in Q4 2022. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share for Q4 2023 was $1.03 compared to $0.81 in Q4 2022.

“Manhattan’s business fundamentals and momentum are strong. Our fourth quarter results exceeded expectations, capping a very successful year for our company,” said Manhattan Associates president and CEO Eddie Capel.

“While appropriately cautious regarding the global economy, Manhattan enters 2024 from a position of strength, and we are optimistic about our growing market opportunity. We remain firmly committed to helping our customers succeed by delivering leading innovation across supply chain execution, omnichannel and retail point of sale markets,” Mr. Capel concluded.

FOURTH QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL SUMMARY:

• Consolidated total revenue was $238.3 million for Q4 2023, compared to $198.1 million for Q4 2022.
• Cloud subscription revenue was $71.4 million for Q4 2023, compared to $51.7 million for Q4 2022.
• License revenue was $5.2 million for Q4 2023, compared to $5.0 million for Q4 2022.
• Services revenue was $119.1 million for Q4 2023, compared to $99.8 million for Q4 2022.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.78 for Q4 2023, compared to $0.60 for Q4 2022.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.03 for Q4 2023, compared to $0.81 for Q4 2022.
• GAAP operating income was $58.9 million for Q4 2023, compared to $44.7 million for Q4 2022.
• Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP measure, was $76.8 million for Q4 2023, compared to $59.9 million for Q4 2022.
• Cash flow from operations was $88.4 million for Q4 2023, compared to $55.2 million for Q4 2022. Days Sales Outstanding was 70 days at December 31, 2023, compared to 71 days at September 30, 2023.
• Cash totalled $270.7 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $182.3 million at September 30, 2023.
• During the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not repurchase shares of Manhattan Associates common stock under the share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors. Our $75.0 million repurchase authority replenished by our Board of Directors in October 2023 remains in effect.

FULL YEAR 2023 FINANCIAL SUMMARY:

• Consolidated total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $928.7 million, compared to $767.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• Cloud subscription revenue was $254.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $176.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• License revenue was $18.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $24.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• Services revenue was $487.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $394.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $2.82, compared to $2.03 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, was $3.74 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $2.76 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• GAAP operating income was $209.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $152.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP measure, was $281.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $212.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• Cash flow from operations was $246.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $179.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
• During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 1,024,328 shares of Manhattan Associates common stock under the share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors, for a total investment of $166.0 million.

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