O'Key Implements Soft Solutions Suite for their Master Data, Analytics, Buying, Merchandising and Supply Chain Operations in Russia

NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - O'Key, Russia's fastest growing retailer, implements the complete Soft Solutions Suite. The scope covers Soft Solutions Retail Operations Suite for allocation, ordering, inventory, supply chain and store operations, Retail Business Suite for negotiation, pricing, promotions, assortment and merchandise management, Retail Analytics Suite for demand forecasting and optimization, Retail Collaboration Suite for retailer-supplier collaboration on top of Soft Solutions' proven and powerful Master Data Management Suite (MDM - ibs REFERENTIAL).

The 3-year project started in October 2009 will provide O'Key with a strong MDM, analytics, operations and merchandising platform to execute their expansion plan, to increase their market share and profitability. Soft Solutions Suite enables O'Key to optimize their end-to-end merchandising lifecycle starting from ibs REFERENTIAL for master data management to ibs DEALS for vendor rebates negotiation and invoicing management to ibs CENTRAL for allocation, ordering, inventory, replenishments and supply chain to ibs PRICING, ibs PROMOTIONS and ibs ASSORTMENT-SPACE PLANNING for integrated price optimization, promotions, assortment and space planning. It enables O'Key's to have a strong headquarters and stores merchandising, category management, assortment, promotions, pricing and planogram process in place.

"O'Key has an ambitious expansion strategy and we need a strong partner with worldwide experience and local presence who can accompany us in our aggressive plan," states Sebastian Verhaeghe, O'Key's executive director, corporate functions. "We selected Soft Solutions over other big-name vendors because of their expertise in retail, functional coverage and their capacity to deliver results in a short time," adds Verhaeghe.

Backed by 20 years of successful client implementations across Europe, North America and Russia, Soft Solutions leverages its team and experience to deliver the extensive project scope in the short timeframe.

"O'Key needs a proven set of full end-to-end retail lifecycle process and solutions to help them achieve their goal quickly," says Nehme Taouk, Soft Solutions' chief executive officer. "We are confident to meet the challenge to give the data quality and operational improvements that O'Key is looking for. We have a history of delivery on time and budget to leading global Tier 1 retailers."

Soft Solutions is increasing its local presence by moving to a bigger office in Moscow in addition to recruiting local team and partners in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The project, implemented in successive phases, will be on HP-Oracle platform.

ABOUT SOFT SOLUTIONS

Soft Solutions is a leading provider in global retail intelligent solutions in merchandise management and decision support. Its clients are multi-divisional, multi-format Tier 1 retailers and manufacturers including Carrefour, CVS, Canadian Tire Retail, Mosmart, Capelli New York, Auchan, Group Louis Delhaize, B&Q, Kingfisher, Castorama, Intermarche, FNAC, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, and Galeries Lafayette. Soft Solutions ibs SUITE conforms to the latest industry and technology standards, including GS1 and ARTS. Soft Solutions has consistently delivered industry-leading solutions incorporating global best practices with measurable top and bottom line business results to retailers and manufacturers worldwide. For more information, visit www.ibs-softsolutions.com.

ABOUT O'KEY

O'Key owns and operates a chain of superstores and hypermarkets in the Russian Federation. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in St. Petersburg, the Russian Federation. O'Key operates as a subsidiary of Dorinda Holding SA. O'Key is one of the fastest growing retailers in Russian market. For more information, visit www.okmarket.ru.

Jasmine Lim-Vandendorpe
Tel: + 33 686 744 909
Email: jasmine.vandendorpe@ibs-softsolutions.com