Centric Software® is pleased to announce that high-performance running brand Saucony will implement Centric PLM™ to drive transformation toward a product-centric R&D and supply chain. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source, buy, make, price, allocate, sell and replenish products such as fashion, outdoor, luxury, multi-category retail, grocery, food & beverage, cosmetics & personal care and consumer electronics to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.
Saucony, established in 1898 in the US, produces both professional and leisure sports shoes and is recognized as one of the top four running shoe brands globally. In 2023, Xtep International reached an agreement with Wolverine Group, the parent company of Saucony, resulting in a joint venture that became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xtep, responsible for the Saucony brand’s operations in China.
Xtep Group and Saucony are working hand in hand to create ‘China line products’ exclusively for the China market. This poses challenges for Saucony’s product innovation, supply chain responsiveness and team collaboration efficiency. Xtep is introducing its key technologies, processes and resources to Saucony, which is one of the key reasons why Saucony is adopting Centric PLM. Since 2018, Xtep Group has used Centric PLM to establish a collaborative design and R&D platform that has enhanced the core competitiveness of their products.
Mr. Wang Yongbao, Supply Chain Director of Saucony, says, “Centric PLM will play a crucial role in enhancing work efficiency and integrating data. We have witnessed the numerous benefits that the Xtep brand has gained. We hope that by implementing Centric PLM, we can enhance Saucony’s market responsiveness, reduce costs and support the platform-based development of Xtep Group in the future.”
The core objective of the project is to establish a R&D and supply chain collaboration platform that is “standardized, coordinated, resource-shared, and efficiency-enhanced.” Centric Software has deployed a team with rich experience in the sports and outdoor industry to replicate the successful experiences of the Xtep brand at Saucony, and plans to complete the project implementation within three months.
As Mr. Wang says, “I believe that with Centric’s professional support, both parties can reach consensus, achieve the implementation of the PLM system and meet our expected goals. In the future, continuous optimization and iteration will be pursued, opening a new chapter of digitalization for Saucony China.”
“We are delighted that Saucony has decided to follow in the footsteps of Xtep Group by selecting Centric PLM,” says Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. “Saucony’s business in China is currently undergoing rapid development and change, and we are excited to be part of a project that builds upon an existing framework of success to expand and innovate further in the future.”
