ITC selects Freeborders
PLM system
Ptex Solutions announced
that ITC Limited, one of
ITC is one of
ITC has a diversified presence in
Cigarettes, Hotels, Paperboards & Specialty Papers, Packaging, Agri-Business, Packaged Foods & Confectionery,
Information Technology, Branded Apparel, Greeting Cards, Safety Matches and
other FMCG products. While ITC is an outstanding market leader in its traditional
businesses of Cigarettes, Hotels, Paperboards, Packaging and Agri-Exports, it is rapidly gaining market share even in
its nascent businesses of Packaged Foods & Confectionery, Branded Apparel
and Greeting Cards.
Freeborders PLM solution will be used by
ITC’s Lifestyle Retail Business Division (LRBD). This division was formed in
2000. Within 6 years it has established a pre-eminent presence in the booming
Indian retail market through its brands Wills Lifestyle and John Players and
has very aggressive growth plans ahead.
“In addition to
our ERP, it was clear that we required a solution that would support our
design-prototying process to optimize/reduce product
development leadtimes. We evaluated several apparel
PLM products and found Freeborders to be the best choice for our requirements.”
At ITC, Designers, Merchandisers, Garment
Engineers and selected vendors will use the system for collaborative product
development. Currently ITC is using a combination of Microsoft Excel, Emails
and other design applications to manage product development, track changes and
manage critical path.
“ITC is the first Indian apparel company to
adopt an enterprise PLM solution. We are delighted that they selected
Freeborders after evaluating several technology companies. Freeborders PLM will
certainly give ITC competitive advantage over other Indian retailers by
improving time to market.” Prasham Kamdar, Managing Director
of Ptex Solutions, the exclusive agent of Freeborders in
Web-based PLM
delivers brand and product strategies, disciplined product development
processes, efficient material development, effectively collaborates with
vendors throughout the design and procurement process and develops products
that exactly match desired specifications at an accelerated pace. Prasham Kamdar adds
“PLM will help to make ITC LRBD’s product development
process more efficient and will help to reduce lead time and product
development cost.” Early adaptors are achieving
significant lead-time reductions of up to 20% across the entire design and
procurement process.
"We were
able to fulfill a critical need for ITC," said Debbie Baldini, Managing
Director, Global Retail Practice, Freeborders.
"Freeborders comprehensive PLM solution will improve the visibility and
data accuracy needed to accelerate ITC’s products to market. We have one of the
largest development teams in the world dedicated to apparel product lifecycle management.”
Freeborders is the worldwide leader in
Product Lifecycle Management solutions for the global apparel and textile
industry. Freeborders has provided PLM to leading American and European
retailers, brands and manufacturers including Courtaulds
(previously Sara Lee Courtaulds), The Peacock Group,
J Jill, J Crew, Christopher & Bank, Woolrich, TAG
and many more.
“We are delighted
to see the progress that our agent Ptex Solutions has made in the Indian region
introducing enterprise PLM solutions to the market.” said Peter Bambridge, Vice
President, Europe Middle East & Asia, Freeborders.
“Reaching this agreement with ITC, after a long competitive process, is a major
achievement and a
milestone in the introduction of PLM to