IBM and Epicor
Expanded Relationship Bolsters Value-Add Offering to Retailers by Tightening Integration from Retail Point-of-Sale to Hardware, Services and Support
IRVINE, Calif. (June 30, 2008) – Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ: EPIC) today
announced a collaborative agreement with IBM to deliver a comprehensive, integrated retail
system management product for specialty and department store retailers. As part of the
expanded relationship, the two companies will develop and market a total offering to centrally
manage and support point-of-sale (POS) hardware and software via IBM’s Remote
Management Agent (RMA).
“Our expanded relationship with Epicor demonstrates our joint commitment to providing
retailers fully integrated retail management products–hardware, software and services–with a
one-stop shopping experience,” said Juhi Jotwani, vice president of marketing and strategy,
IBM Retail Store Solutions business. “Retailers will benefit from lower total cost of
ownership and a central point of contact for service and support.”
RMA is part of an end-to-end systems solution that empowers retailers to manage their
store environments more competitively, enabling them to perform remote configuration,
software distribution, proactive remote monitoring, asset tracking, diagnostic and problem
determination down to the device level.
The combination of the IBM RMA and Epicor Retail Store products provides specialty
retailers the ability to remotely monitor, configure and track hardware, software and applications
in one store or multiple store locations, from a central point. The offering gives retailers the
tools they need to run their operations more efficiently and effectively, resulting in an enhanced
customer shopping experience.
According to Gartner, “The current global economic slowdown is signaling that now,
more than ever, retailers must focus on executing as well as they can on in-store consumer
service basics to attract consumers and to sustain repeat spending. Retailers must also
balance and align their strategies and capabilities with customer priorities for the segments they
service and the type of goods they sell.”1
For a number of specialty retailers, the combination of Epicor Retail Store solutions and
IBM hardware is already the solution of choice. Hudson Group, a privately held corporation that
operates more than 500 newsstands, bookstores, cafes and premier specialty retail shops in 70
transportation terminals and airports throughout North America is one such customer. “We
believe there will be significant value add to our company as IBM and Epicor align more closely
in delivering software, hardware and services as a complete package,” said Gary MacRae, vice
president and CIO of Hudson Group.
Epicor provides a full set of solutions for retailers comprising integrated POS, crosschannel
order management, CRM, planning, sourcing, merchandising, replenishment, store
inventory, warehousing and financial systems. Epicor’s sophisticated and integrated software
powers the entire retail enterprise providing proactive tools to help a retailer react quicker, be
more effective, support customer relationship and brand initiatives, and increase and achieve
retail success.
“Epicor and IBM are both committed to serving the needs of specialty retailers–from
regional chains to multichannel global brands,” said David Henning, executive vice president
and general manager of Epicor Retail. “Expanding our existing alliance demonstrates the added
value that Epicor and IBM bring to the specialty retail market, with tailored software, hardware,
services and support that provides a solid technology platform for retailers to streamline
operations, enhance the customer experience and improve the bottom-line.”
For information on IBM Retail, please visit www.ibm.com/retail.
Source: Epicor
