An online supply chain platform helps Wolverine Worldwide integrate a major acquisition and become more agile Wolverine Worldwide, a $2.69 billion footwear company–which owns brands like Sperry, Merrell, Saucony, Hush Puppies, Keds and Stride Rite–ships 100 million pairs of shoes annually to customers around the world. Follow everything from CIO on Twitter @CIOonline. With that kind of volume, Wolverine can’t ensure accuracy and efficiency without clear visibility into its supply chain, which involves 110 factories in 20 countries, says Dee Slater, CIO and vice president of supply chain and shared services. To gain that visibility, Wolverine uses a cloud-based global sourcing platform from GT Nexus, originally deployed in 2001 to replace paper processes. The online hub came in especially handy in October 2012 when Wolverine acquired Collective Brands’ Performance and Lifestyle Group (PLG) for $1.24 billion. “We doubled our business with that acquisition, but because they were already on GT Nexus, we just had to move them onto our account and our ERP system,” Slater says. The GT Nexus platform compiles data from Wolverine’s ERP system as well as from electronic feeds from its manufacturing, shipping and logistic partners to create visibility throughout the stream. Real-Time Visibility Slater says Wolverine uses GT Nexus to access real-time information on the current state of its orders and shipments. The company can see where orders stand in the factories, when they leave factories, when they arrive at centers for export, and when they ship. Wolverine also uses the platform to pay the factories. Because the system is cloud-based, Slater says Wolverine’s team can securely access information from anywhere without having to log in to the company’s own ERP system. Gartner analyst William McNeill says companies use cloud-based platforms like GT Nexus to gain speed, consolidate orders and tap into an online ecosystem of buyers and sellers. So when a company like Wolverine buys this service, they get access not just to the technology but also to everyone in the ecosystem. That makes integrating acquisitions such as PLG go more smoothly. This year, Slater plans to use the platform to consolidate purchase orders as they go to factories for bid, which could lower costs and increase speed to market. She also wants to adjust shipment destinations to more quickly respond to regional demands. “Time is money and agility is more important than ever in the retail world. Everyone is moving faster,” Slater says. “This will allow us not just to keep up but to stay ahead.” Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline, Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks Operational technology systems require a robust Zero Trust strategy in 2024 Zero Trust provides a foundation for creating a stronger security posture in 2024. By Navneet Singh, vice president of marketing, network security, Palo Alto Networks Dec 05, 2023 6 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM How digital twin technology is changing complex industrial processes forever As the use cases for digital twins proliferate, it is becoming clear that data-driven enterprises with a track record of innovation stand the best chance of success. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM Why modernising applications needs to be a ‘must’ for businesses seeking growth Around one-third of enterprises are spending heavily on application modernisation and aiming for cloud native status. The implications for corporate culture, structure and priorities will be profound. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation opinion 11 ways to reduce your IT costs now Reorienting IT’s budget toward future opportunities is a big reason why CIOs should review their IT portfolios with an eye toward curbing unnecessary spending and realizing maximum value from every IT investment. By Stephanie Overby Dec 05, 2023 11 mins Budget Cloud Management IT Governance Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe