Blue Agave Launches ActiveCustomer to Bring CPG Manufacturers Closer to Retailers

Leverages Point-of-Sale Data from RetailLink ® and Other Systems to Improve Retail Performance in Real-Time

CAMBRIDGE , Mass. (January 27, 2004) — Blue Agave Software, Inc. today announced the availability of ActiveCustomer, the first solution to give consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers the ability to use point-of-sale (POS) data to improve retail performance in real-time. The software combines information from systems such as Wal-Mart's RetailLink® as well as manufacturers' transaction and planning applications, to drive operational decisions that strengthen margins, maximize store in-stock levels and improve the effectiveness of promotions.

ActiveCustomer continuously analyzes consumer takeaway, retail store and distribution center inventory data along with a CPG manufacturer's planning, fulfillment and inventory systems to identify and resolve challenges that affect service levels. Automatically interrogating large volumes of data – hundreds of SKUs moving through thousands of retail stores – across multiple systems of record, ActiveCustomer presents only the relevant operational information to decision-makers in a timeframe that lets them take meaningful action. This real-time insight into constantly changing store-level and internal business conditions helps CPG companies maximize revenue opportunities with unprecedented ability to quickly, proactively respond to the inevitable gap between forecasts and real consumer demand.

“The constant pressure of shorter order cycle times, everyday low prices, and higher service levels means that CPG companies must get closer to their customer,” said Keith Belton, vice president of marketing for Blue Agave. “By continuously tapping into retailers' most up-to-date information, ActiveCustomer extends a manufacturer's real-time visibility all the way to the store shelf.”

While retailers update and make POS information available to their suppliers on a daily basis, the complexity and scope of the information has made it impossible for CPG manufacturers to use it to influence daily operational decisions. ActiveCustomer is the first solution to leverage this comprehensive data in real-time, so sales planning and customer service teams can consistently and effectively affect business as business is being conducted – and avoid stock-outs or late orders that can result in lost revenue.

Active Customer Links Operations with Daily Retail Activity

ActiveCustomer identifies actual and potential problems in key operational processes that could affect the bottom line, with enough time to take action and make a positive impact. Its forward-looking capabilities are already providing an additional 7-10 days of lead time for a major CPG manufacturer, detecting and resolving their most pressing and common problems – including stock-outs and short shipments – to capture additional revenue and reduce “just in case” inventories.

ActiveCustomer also lets manufacturers:

•  Effectively respond to demand shifts or variances, providing planners with appropriate context including demand and supply at retail distribution center- and store- levels

•  Improve service levels to meet retail performance or in-stock thresholds with a new, real-time understanding of consumer takeaway rates and on-hand inventory at each and every store

•  Maintain ideal inventory levels at the lowest possible level, by continuously monitoring store-level takeaway rates with store- and distribution center- inventory levels as well as with replenishment plans

•  Understand promotional lift versus plan in early days of a promotion, by region or store level to make real-time adjustments in execution, such as rebalancing inventory across distribution centers or modifying replenishment policies

Active Customer, currently shipping, is part of Blue Agave's Active Performance Management™ (APM) suite, which provides an end-to-end solution set to improve business performance by identifying and resolving operational challenges, monitoring key aspects of the business against plan, and generating root-cause analysis needed to successfully drive ongoing improvement. This new generation of applications helps manufacturers improve operating performance, enhance service levels, and drive increased revenue and profitability based on up-to-the-minute insight into how their business is running.

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Active Performance Management, Blue Agave Software and the Blue Agave Software logo are trademarks of Blue Agave Software, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

About Blue Agave Software
Blue Agave Software helps manufacturers raise operational performance and maximize revenue opportunities by improving response to sudden and often unexpected shifts in supply, demand and logistics. Its Active Performance Management suite delivers millions of dollars in incremental revenue and cost savings, and helps companies meet service requirements by proactively resolving the most common operating challenges, such as stock-outs, late orders, excess inventory and material shortages. The software identifies and recommends actions for operational anomalies, monitors key aspects of business performance against company targets and provides root-cause analysis to successfully drive continuous improvement. Blue Agave is a privately held company headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. and can be reached at www.blueagavesoft.com or (617) 621-3400.

Company Contact:
Susan Barr
(617) 621-3400 x210
sbarr@blueagavesoft.com