RPW 5-5-09

Retail Paradox Weekly

Retail News Analysis by RSR Research

May 5, 2009

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JDA: Trying Harder or Trying Too Hard?

By Nikki Baird, Managing Partner
5/5/2009

The world of Tier-1 retail ERP is small. I'll get angry emails for sure, but while there are others that can play at this level, when I think Tier-1 retail ERP, I think SAP, Oracle, and JDA. I've already said something about SAP and Oracle in the last year, and now it's only fair to give JDA equal opportunity, so to speak. That's why last week I went to Focus, JDA's user group conference. I must confess bewilderment when it comes to JDA, and I was hoping that hanging out with their user community would help sort me out.

Here's what bewilders me... More

Recession Over: Time to Blog about It

By Steve Rowen, Managing Partner
5/5/2009

What have I learned this week? Well, quite a few things, really. I learned that even with touting his “love of the game” and taking a few cuts at the wicket on a Dodgers’ day off back in late March, the purest swing in baseball - Manny Ramirez - couldn’t help DirectTV sell the “Cricket Ticket” here this spring in the American market (Did they really think anything could?). I also learned that IBM is nearly ready for its AI supercomputer to compete against Ken Jennings on Jeopardy!, and that Hamas leaders won’t amend its 20 year old charter calling for jihad, but would like the rest of us to look past that point. Oh, and that I should have bought a house this winter because here comes the US housing market.

I’m only half joking about that last one. Yesterday... More

The 'Electronification' of Cash: Computerized Safes

By Paula Rosenblum, Managing Partner

5/5/2009

Last week I attended the AFP Retail Treasury Forum in New York City. I was impressed by both the number and organizational level of the speakers and attendees. One session in particular, caught my interest. The session was chaired by representatives of First Third Bank, Brink’s, and Margaret Albrecht, Boston Market’s Treasurer. The title seemed catchy enough, “Discovering Value in the Face of an Economic Recession with Cash Electronification.”

The opportunity turned out to be even catchier... More