361° (the 361 Degrees Group), a leading sports brand in China, has selected Centric Software to provide its product lifecycle management (PLM) solution.
361°, founded in 2003, is a comprehensive sporting goods company which integrates branding, R&D, design, production, and distribution of products including sports shoes and apparel, related accessories, childrenwear, and high-end outdoor products. The tagline of 361° is “one degree beyond”. 361° has grown rapidly in China, began its international expansion in 2013 and is now present in the US, Europe, and South America. 361° is an official supplier of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to international expansion, 361° is transforming from a wholesale to a retail business model. This exciting time of growth and change has brought several challenges, leading the company to consider using a product lifecycle management (PLM) solution to streamline design, production, and retail.
Chen Jianci, VP of IT & Supply Chain at 361° says, “The company is developing very fast and as we move from wholesaler to retailer, research and development is becoming more complex to manage. We have a lot of suppliers and are changing from traditional supply chain methods to a model that will allow us to move more quickly. For example, if we get all our suppliers to use a common platform, we can get real time quotes, availability and so forth. Knowledge management is also an area of focus – we need to make sure that old designs are retained so that they can be re-used and not lost.”
While researching various PLM providers to address these issues, 361° found that many providers only focused on process management. Centric’s flexibility and expertise in apparel and footwear were critical factors in 361°’s decision to go with Centric’s PLM solution.
“Centric really understands what a sportswear company needs, which is very important to us,” says Mr. Chen. “Our business is developing quickly, so we need software that is flexible and fully extensible. Co-operation between Centric and 361° is highly strategic and the best practices shared from Centric are crucial for us.”
Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software, says, “We’re delighted that 361° has chosen Centric PLM to drive this exciting period of transformation and international expansion. Centric and 361° have found an excellent fit and are working together to ensure a smooth implementation. We’re happy to say that Centric is experiencing huge growth in China, and it’s exciting for us to work with such a major Chinese sports brand.”
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