EANS-News: SAF AG
Future Retail Center: SAF and SAP Research are developing
innovative solution scenarios for retail stores
SAF and SAP AG will present a jointly developed prototype for intraday monitoring of fresh product sales at the CeBIT Exhibition
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Company Information
Subtitle: SAF and SAP AG will present a jointly developed prototype for intraday monitoring of fresh product sales at the CeBIT Exhibition
Tägerwilen (euro adhoc) - Tägerwilen/Switzerland, February 28, 2011 SAF AG, which is listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN CH0024848738), and is one of the world´s leading suppliers of automated forecasting and ordering software for retailers, is working together with SAP AG in the field of Research & Innovation. In cooperation with SAP Research, SAP's global research organization, SAF is developing practical and innovative solutions for the retail business in the Future Retail Center in Regensdorf, near Zürich. This work is focused on developing a prototype for monitoring the sensitive sales of fresh products.
Fresh products are a hallmark of quality that consumers carefully scrutinize. That's why retailers pay particular attention to product availability and to an attractive product offering in this assortment.
This represents major challenges for retailers. Fresh products are characterized by their short shelf life and the associated risk of spoilage. That's why it is crucial that retailers avoid excess stocks that directly lead to losses due to impending product spoilage.
Intraday monitoring of fresh product sales is of key importance due to their perishability and short shelf life. SAF and SAP Research are working together on a prototype in the Future Retail Center to enable retailers to better deal with the challenges of fresh product assortments in future.
Utilizing an automated forecasting and ordering system, the prototype compares actual sales realized during the course of the day at product level with a continuously updated forecast and identifies significant deviations. The system alerts the retailer via an alarm function to items that will be overstocked or out of stock at the end of the day. "Using the intraday monitoring function, the order writer in the store can directly react to imminent excess stocks or lost sales in the fresh product assortment with suitable measures such as advertising, pricing adjustments or revision of existing orders," explains Udo Meyzis, CEO of SAF, the advantages of this joint solution approach. "With this approach, we can optimally support the retailer´s ordering process to meet customer demand and, at the same time, to ensure the high quality as well as an attractive selection of fresh products."
SAP Research will present this prototype together with SAF at the CeBIT Exhibition from March 1-5, 2011 in Hanover at Booth D04 in Hall 4.
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About SAF AG SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting AG specializes in the development of automated ordering and forecasting software for retailers and industrial manufacturers. SAF deploys the demand chain management approach, which controls replenishment planning based on consumer demand patterns. SAF software assists users to realize substantial cost savings and optimizes general logistics conditions through its simulation capabilities. As a result, significant competitive advantages are achieved along the entire value chain: lower inventories, improved product availability, and last, but not least, a higher level of customer satisfaction.
SAF AG was established in 1996 by Dr. Andreas von Beringe and Prof. Dr. Gerhard Arminger. SAF shares are listed at the official market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB). Today, the company employs approx. 100 people. Consolidated sales revenues for fiscal year 2009, according to IFRS statements, were EUR 16.6 million with consolidated profit of EUR 0.7 million which were affected by one-time costs of EUR 2.8 million due to the takeover by SAP. SAP currently holds approx. 70 percent of SAF´s shares. SAF´s products are distributed in many European countries as well as in the United States. The company is headquartered in Tägerwilen, Switzerland. SAF also has a subsidiary in the United States: SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting U.S.A., Inc., Irving and in Slovakia, Bratislava: SAF Simulation, Analysis and Forecasting Slovakia s.r.o. with the focus on Nearshore-Development.
Forward Looking Statements and Estimates This information contains forward looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of SAF's Management Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forward looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forward looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, risks that are mentioned in the annual report 2009. SAF does not plan to update the forward looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
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Contact:
Mareike Poit
Marketig & Corporate Communications Specialist
Tel.: +41 (0)71 666 7955
E-Mail: mareike.poit@saf-ag.com
Branche: Software
ISIN: CH0024848738
WKN: A0JD78
Index: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade