In the dynamic world of retail, staying ahead of customer demand is crucial for business success. Zebra Workcloud stands out offering a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to enhance demand intelligence in the retail sector. Including AI and machine learning, Zebra Workcloud empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions that optimise inventory management, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Hozefa Saylawala, Regional Sales Director – MESTA at Zebra Technologies, delves into the key features of Zebra Workcloud, highlighting its unique attributes and its commitment to data privacy and security.
What are the key capabilities of Zebra Workcloud in enhancing demand intelligence for businesses?
Zebra Workcloud provides a range of solutions specifically tailored to enhance demand intelligence in the retail sector. These capabilities are centred around accurate demand forecasting. The Enterprise Forecasting feature utilises robust data engineering and modelling practices to create a unified AI forecast that considers both internal and external factors, enabling businesses to predict short-term, mid-term, and long-term demand with precision. Additionally, Demand Analysis offers a user-friendly interface for intuitive, exception-driven planning, focusing on retail supply chain demand forecasting. The Modeling Studio complements this by providing a low-code, no-code machine learning platform for teams looking to experiment and deploy AI/ML models to address various retail challenges.
What role do AI and machine learning technologies play in Zebra Workcloud?
AI and machine learning are central to Zebra Workcloud’s functionality. They are instrumental in predicting sales demand with a high degree of accuracy and precision. These technologies leverage granular forecasting to optimise inventory placement, enabling businesses to make informed decisions related to product purchasing, placement, and pricing. AI and machine learning also play a crucial role in understanding customer demand, which ultimately improves customer satisfaction by improving inventory decisions across channels and throughout the supply chain. Additionally, they contribute to improving margins, revenue, and reducing inventory risks.
How does Zebra Workcloud assist businesses in planning and executing across digital and physical channels?
Zebra Workcloud supports businesses in planning and executing across digital and physical channels through various solutions within its platform. Merchandise Financial Planning allows accurate forecasting of unit sales, facilitating budget and allocation spend across channels for all products. Assortment Planning optimises buy quantities by aligning with customer choice expectations while staying within budgets. Allocation ensures that purchase orders are placed in the appropriate channels and stores to meet product demand effectively. Lastly, Lifecycle Pricing enables decision-making relating to profitable in-season and end-of-season promotions and markdowns, optimising a product’s lifecycle.
How does Zebra Workcloud ensure data privacy and security when dealing with sensitive demand-related information?
Zebra Workcloud places a strong emphasis on data privacy and security. The platform adheres to the highest industry standards, including ISO270001 and SOC2 certifications, ensuring robust compliance. Data storage and transfer processes are secured to safeguard sensitive information. Importantly, Zebra Workcloud does not consume? personally identifiable information (PII) from its customers for its solutions, providing an added layer of data privacy protection.
What sets Zebra Workcloud apart from other solutions claiming to enhance demand intelligence in the market?
Zebra Workcloud distinguishes itself in several key ways. Firstly, it excels in accurately and precisely predicting demand at the SKU/store level, providing valuable insights for various planning decisions, from purchasing to placement to pricing. Secondly, it seamlessly connects traditionally separate modules into an orchestrated suite of decision-planning tools, streamlining business operations. Thirdly, Zebra Workcloud offers various levels of interaction with the demand intelligence layer, allowing for overrides and model experimentation, providing flexibility in decision-making. Lastly, the platform excels in solving traditionally challenging problems in the retail sector, particularly in short-lifecycle, seasonal, and fashion products, where accurate predictions and effective planning are notoriously difficult.
