The new unit is a logical step. JDA makes software for automating business processes and managing the flow of goods in the retail industry.
It's a logical step for the Phoenix-based vendor, which makes software for automating business processes and managing the flow of goods in the retail industry. Retailers are the prime industry for using e-commerce systems.
"As the market becomes increasingly competitive, retailers must constantly look for new ways to drive revenues and cut costs," said JDA chief executive officer Brent Lippman. "Our clients want to move beyond simply listing store locations on their Web sites to establishing an effective and efficient infrastructure for Internet shoppers, suppliers, and employees."
The first product out of the new division is an intranet module for retail employees. Called Enterprise Viewer, it lets employees of a retail organization access information through a Web browser. This allows a store manager or regional manager to access data from headquarters critical to their own planning needs. It also allows headquarters a quick and relatively inexpensive way to get information, such as new training manuals or policies, to employees who are often spread out at shopping malls throughout the country.
The move comes at a time when JDA is feeling increasing pressure from industry giants like SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. All are making big pushes into the retail market. PeopleSoft went as far as to buy its longtime partner and JDA rival Intrepid Systems so it could be more of a player in the retail market.