Homeplus optimises store planning with JDA's solutions

HOMEPLUS, a major South Korean discount store retail chain, has selected a range of JDA’s category management solutions to replace legacy processes, enabling a more real-time, efficient and accurate store planning process. JDA Service will manage the implementation of JDA’s space planning, floor planning, category knowledge base, and assortment optimisation solutions within Homeplus’ operations. The integration is scheduled for completion by February 2017.

Homeplus is the second largest retailer in South Korea. It operates 141 hypermarkets, 536 express marts and 300 convenience stores across the country. Owned by Tesco until 2015, Homeplus relied on its systems and processes for space and store planning. With its stores located across South Korea, Homeplus is challenged with tailoring its product assortments to differing consumer preferences region to region.

In order to fuel growth among its stores, Homeplus realised it needed a more sophisticated category management solution that would effectively eliminate Tesco’s processes and legacy systems, transitioning from slow and inefficient to  real-time, accurate and fast. This enables Homeplus to keep pace with today’s ever-changing omni-channel environment.

After considering a number of software providers, Homeplus selected four category management solutions from JDA. “After a competitive selection process, we chose JDA given its strong references and expertise in the region, and proven performance and functionality. We were also impressed with how tightly integrated the solutions are, allowing us to link our processes together across the business,” revealed Homeplus’ CIO, Yongseok Park. “Our engagement from top to bottom during the selection process gave us the confidence that JDA is our strategic partner to enable a seamless, powerful and efficient supply chain across our 900 stores.”

Once deployed, Homeplus will have optimised shelf assortments and layouts in each store reflecting the needs of local shoppers, including the right mix of categories, brands and products on the shelf and in the right place in the store. Homeplus will create corporate category management and space management rules that will be enforced across every store  via JDA solutions for consistency and a streamlined approach to store planning.

“In today’s highly competitive omni-channel environment, retailers have one chance to satisfy consumer demands. If shoppers cannot find the product they want to purchase, there are numerous bricks-and-mortar and e-commerce retailers ready and willing to fill that gap,” said Amit Bagga, regional vice-president, sales, Asia-Pacific at JDA. “JDA’s category management solutions will drive growth and profits for Homeplus through optimised, local product assortments with higher overall levels of product availability for today’s increasingly demanding customers.”