Software vendors Oracle and SAP are updating their retail suites amid growing hype over connectivity between web, apps, stores, and the use of analytics to inform business decisions.
Released on Monday, Oracle Retail 14.1 aims to guide consumers seamlessly between channels, tying in with MICROS, a program for integrating backend, front of house and web services in the hospitality and retail sectors.
Mike Webster, SVP and general manager of Oracle Retail and Hospitality, said: "Oracle and MICROS can help retailers respond to rapidly evolving customer expectations, increase revenue, and drive operational improvements with complete, open, and integrated solutions."
"Our customers appreciate our deep domain expertise as we deliver mission-critical solutions to solve their most important business challenges."
SAP has meanwhile announced it will launch Assortment Planning for Retail, an app designed to inform store managers on the best product placement, at an unspecified date.
"Retailers often struggle with planning large assortments manually with just spreadsheets, a lack of integrated business processes and the rapid changes in the marketplace," said Lori Mitchell-Keller, SVP of SAP’s Global Retail Industry Business Unit.
"The development of SAP Assortment Planning for Retail is envisioned to allow retailers to simplify this business process and leap-frog their competition as they take advantage of this next-generation planning solution."
