s.Oliver Deploys Centric PLM™ with Rapid Speed and Agility

CAMPBELL, Calif., October 13, 2020 — One of the leading German fashion companies, s.Oliver Group has implemented Centric Software‘s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), taking 700 users live on the system in just four months. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury, home décor and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

s.Oliver Group was established in 1969. In just a few decades, it grew into one of Europe’s leading fashion companies, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019. The company employs around 6,100 people internationally. Besides the brand s.Oliver, the company’s portfolio also includes comma, Q/S designed by and Liebeskind Berlin.

The Technology Manager responsible for the Process Domain Product, Purchasing & Sourcing at s.Oliver, Silke Albuquerque-Fuchs, explains that the time was right to implement a completely new PLM system and transition from their legacy My Collection solution, put into place almost a decade ago. s.Oliver needed to implement a new generation of PLM but very, very quickly.

“Through a series of virtual workshops, we set different tasks for the different vendors and after the final evaluation and calculation, Centric PLM emerged as the ideal partner for us — not only because Centric always won when it came to scores, but because the users were truly impressed by how intuitive, comfortable and more modern the system is. We were confident it would allow us to share and access information faster, with a user interface that is a lot easier to navigate.”

One of the most important requirements for s.Oliver was finding a PLM solution that could not only support its digitalization plans to reduce lead times by almost half, but to have a system that would accelerate the speed at which designers can create new styles by leveraging 3D technology to eliminate samples and eradicate time-wasting intermediary activities.

“Centric PLM will enable us to achieve all our future plans, especially when it comes to 3D, as Centric 3D Connect seamlessly integrates our existing technology with its innovative system.”

Centric started the global analysis workshops in mid-April 2020 and the whole system – including every division, module, interface, agency and 700 users including sourcing offices – went live in August. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all meetings and activities took place virtually.

“Our management team is amazed at how fast everything went,” says Rieke Schneider, Manager Sourcing Operations – Product, Purchase & Merchandise at s.Oliver. “We receive support calls with Centric regularly, and users have adapted to the system incredibly quickly – it seemed they were already used to working with the system by day 2! This project is definitely going to be a model we will follow for future projects.”

s.Oliver expects to gain many benefits on the creative side, including increased creative output and visualization, as well as decreased costs and enhanced product quality.

“We now have fewer design cancellations, as changes can be made quickly in the simulation, and the whole product development process has become easier, faster, more accurate and cheaper. 3D visualization means only one sample is required throughout the whole development phase, as patterns can be tested virtually before manufacturing, and this means shipping times and costs are reduced.”

“We are thrilled to be working with s.Oliver to help them reach their digital transformation goals such as reducing time to market and fully leveraging their creative talent,” comments Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. “We are looking forward to continuing this exciting partnership and to innovate together.”

s.Oliver Group (www.soliver-group.com)

s.Oliver Group was established by Bernd Freier in 1969. In just a few decades, it grew into one of Europe’s leading fashion companies, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019. The company employs around 6,100 people internationally. Besides the brands s.Oliver, the company’s portfolio also includes comma, Q/S designed by and Liebeskind Berlin.

Centric Software (centric-staging.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor, consumer goods and home décor. Centric’s flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB provides innovative PLM technology and key industry learnings for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) offers a new fully visual and digital experience for collaboration and decision-making and includes the Centric Buying Board to transform internal buying sessions and maximize retail value and the Centric Concept Board for driving creativity and evolving product concepts. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs.

Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016 and 2018.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc.. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.