Quantum Retail Technology Inc., a provider of optimization software for retail merchandising, has updated its core platform, known as Q. Version 10.05 provides advanced capabilities for complex supply chains, electronic commerce and order planning and forecasting, the vendor said. Using the application, planners can manage at the day level for short-life products, and up to 18 months in advance for long-life items. They can recalculate distributions based on the most recent localized demand data. Multi-supply-chain support provides flexibility in order planning and distribution for retailers with complex supply networks, involving such steps as vendor to national distribution center, vendor to regional D.C., and national to regional D.C. Q now supports direct-to-store orders, allowing users to view order quantities by location to ensure the correct quantity for each local store. In addition, retailers can integrate e-commerce inventory, warehouse or vendor availability and distribution alongside physical store locations. Planners can test "what-if" scenarios, with the ability to change quantities as late as time of receipt, based on the most up-to-date demand data.
