ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the
National Retail Federation (NRF) conference in New York City, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced that
specialty retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is
working with IBM software to help the company transform its online
business to achieve the speed, efficiency and adaptability of
Smarter Commerce. The initiative is part of Abercombie's strategic
goal to expand its Direct-to-Consumer capabilities and drive its
e-commerce business to $1
billion.
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(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )
"Abercrombie & Fitch Co., and its portfolio of brands
including Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Co, abercrombie kids,
and Gilly Hicks, is growing its
e-commerce and cross-channel operation dramatically in the coming
years. We require a world-class solution that will scale over time,
bolster international expansion, and support cross-channel
commerce. IBM's e-commerce and order management solutions meet our
requirements for infrastructure, scalability, and future growth,"
said John Deane, Senior Vice
President and Chief Information Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch
Co.
With Smarter Commerce, IBM is defining and leading a new market
driven by the demands of rapidly shifting customer-buying patterns
in the era of mobile and social networks. Smarter Commerce helps
retailers achieve brand intimacy by more effectively automating
their purchasing, marketing, sales and fulfillment processes to
better serve their customers.
Abercrombie & Fitch is using IBM's WebSphere commerce
platform for its branded storefronts, both domestically and
internationally. The company is adding IBM order management
software, which includes call center functions for accessing and
updating customer orders, to provide the retailer with the
operational foundation it needs to move toward providing seamless,
integrated cross-channel solutions.
"Consumers are becoming more connected, and more demanding in
their expectations of how they interact with retailers," said
Craig Hayman, General Manager, IBM
Industry Solutions. "The steps Abercrombie & Fitch are taking
to achieve Smarter Commerce will help it continue to deliver
quality merchandise, and provide a unique shopping experience that
will deepen its relationship with consumers."
For more information, visit
http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smarter_commerce/overview/index.html?re=sph
Founded in 1892, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates more than
1000 stores worldwide, including its namesake Abercrombie &
Fitch, abercrombie kids, Hollister Co., and Gilly Hicks as well as e-commerce websites at
www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com, www.hollisterco.com
and www.gillyhicks.com.
Media Contacts:
Julie Redard
IBM Media Relations
(978) 430-8905
jredard@us.ibm.com
Doug Fraim
IBM Media Relations
(617) 501-6376
dfraim@us.ibm.com
SOURCE IBM