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01. 11-12. 2010 - Soft Solutions at NRF 2010 in New York
Soft Solutions to showcase its latest V7 solutions with enhanced user interface. Please visit us at our booth 758 or at our partner ARTS Pavilion at 2037.
01.01.2009 - So ft Solutions will showcase its Replenishment and Stock Management solutions at NRF Retail's Big Show '09
09.01.2008 - Soft Solutions selects CA Recovery Software to ensure better business continuity
Company Selects The XOsoft WANSync Solution from CA to Improve its Disaster Recovery Capabilities.
02.01.2008 - 20- year retail industry veteran to join Soft Solutions
Seasoned Industry Executive Joins Soft Solutions As New Country Director In Canada.
01.01.2008 - Soft Solutions to showcase its new solutions at NRF "Retail's Big Show 08"
The Company Will Unveil Its SOA- Mobile Technology and Latest Software Updates
21.02.2007 - Soft Solutions supports Oracle Real application Cluster 10 g (RAC)
Soft Solutions is pleased to announce that its Retail Merchandising Suite supports "Oracle Real Application Clusters 10g" ("RAC"), the database clustering system provided by Oracle.
Soft Solutions is pleased to announce that its Retail Merchandising Suite supports "Oracle Real Application Clusters 10g" ("RAC"), the database clustering system provided by Oracle.

RAC is the clustering technology allowing high availability of the systems, linear scalability and performance improvement through load balancing.
The test case has been conducted on a 2-node 4 CPU cluster, with Linux Red Hat 4. The shared storage was configured with Automatic
Storage Management (ASM), the oracle technology within 10g used to partition database data files on disks for availability and backup purposes.
The two database servers were linked two 2-Gbits links, one used by RAC to keep the two database instances synchronized and
the other one used by the database client, the J2EE application server hosting Soft Solutions' application in our case.
21.12.2006 - Soft Solutions to unveil its Retail Operations Suite at the NRF "Retail's Big Show'07"
Company to make major announcements regarding North American expansion and strategic solutions for Store and Central Operations
San Bruno, California-December 21, 2006. Soft Solutions announces it will again be exhibiting at the NRF Retail's Big Show '07 being held January 14th - 17 that the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, New York. After a strong performance in 2006 in both client expansion and strategic product development, Soft Solutions continues to demonstrate its ability to bring strategic solution capabilities together with delivery excellence in the global retail marketplace. Come learn more about this industry leader at Retail's Big Show '07, booth #3154.

Soft Solutions plans to unveil its Retail Operations Suite which includes support of Central and Store Operations. This is the newest addition to the company's fully-integrated Suite of functionally-rich merchandise and marketing solutions. Now, for the first time, retailers can deploy an integrated central-to-store back office solution on a single platform, with an end-user interface technology that requires little or no training to deploy. Features such as a search engine, mobile computing capability, dashboard alerts and exception management are included with the Retail Operations Suite.

Additionally, Soft Solutions will be highlighting major advances in its market expansion both in Europe and North America. Clients will be on hand to comment on the company's leadership in solutions and project delivery, and additional press announcements are expected before and during the conference.

Finally, in its continuing commitment to technology standards, Soft Solutions is pleased to be participating at the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) booth, where it will be presenting the industry's leading solution for Master Data Management (MDM). ARTS has released to its members an RFP template for MDM, similar to those they have developed in past years. Stop by the ARTS booth at #2155 learn more about both Soft Solutions' MDM and ARTS.

"We are excited about our participation at NRF '07 and we look forward to meeting with clients to discuss mutual opportunities," states Jasmine Vandendorpe, Director of Marketing for Soft Solutions. "2006 has been an historic year for our company, and it is clear retailers are seeking a strong partner with comprehensive, integrated solutions to compete in today's global marketplace. Soft Solutions is positioned to be that partner," adds Jasmine.

About Soft Solutions
Soft Solutions is a leading provider of web-based retail merchandise management and decision support software. Our customers are multi-divisional, multi-format Tier 1 retailers and suppliers including Carrefour, CVS, Canadian Tire Retail, Capelli New York, Auchan, Group Louis Delhaize, B&Q, Kingfisher, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, and Galeries Lafayette. Soft Solutions ibs SUITE conforms to the latest industry and technology standards, including GS1, and is compatible with multiple databases and industry application server packages. With consistent delivery of measurable top and bottom line business results, Soft Solutions is uniquely positioned to provide global best practices and industry-leading solutions for the fast paced, competitive environment of retailers worldwide. For more information, please connect to www.ibs-softsolutions.com

To schedule a meeting, please contact:
Name Email Telephone
Karen Fast karen.fast@ibs-softsolutions.com +1-541-410-5632
Jasmine Vandendorpe jasmine.vandendorpe@ibs-softsolutions.com +33 686 744 909
Fernando Llobregat fernando.llobregat@ibs-softsolutions.com +33 620 945 558
19.10.2006 - Seminar in Spain, October the 19th - Strategy and solutions for the new Retail (Click here to download the agenda)
Soft Solutions invite you to assist to the seminar "Future Retail: Strategy and solutions for the new Retail" which will take place in Madrid on October the 19th. Along with its partners HP Spain, Atos Origin and Intel Soft Solutions will also present its latest development the ibs Retail Operations Suite . Contact eventos@softsolutions.esfor more information.
27.06.2006 -Positive feedback on the MDM seminar organized by Soft Solutions, HP, Intel and KSA on June, 27th 2006.
Please contact marketing@softsolutions.fr to obtain a copy of the seminar.
 
Sign-up right now for "Master Data Management" seminar organized by Soft Solutions, HP, Intel and KSA on June, 27th 2006
Provera France (Groupe Louis Delhaize), Soft Solutions, HP, Intel and KSA share their experience in implementation of Master Data Management solutions in a round table and a debate moderated by Jean-Bernard Gallois from LSA magazine, at the Sofitel of Marcq en Baroeul. Following this round table, the speakers will be available from 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. to exchange with the participants around demonstration pods of Soft Solutions' Master Data Management solution, ibs REFERENTIAL.
Stakes of a Single Referential (Master-File)
The quality of retailers' operational execution is tightly linked to the quality of the information exchanged within the organization as well as with suppliers and to the speed of dissemination of this information.
The lack of reliability of retailer data generates losses due to stock-outs, labeling or cash register errors, etc. Studies have shown that 30% of data found in merchandise databanks is erroneous, that each item requires some 25 minutes of data cleansing time per year, and that 60 % of invoices issued contain errors as well (source: AT Kearney)..
A single solution for item information management - synchronized with standard electronic catalogs, or with suppliers, and integrating business processes - is sure to allow:
- Significantly reducing these losses
- Improving the business's reactivity in launching new products
- Optimizing product data maintenance costs
- Reducing litigation with suppliers
Single database integrating business processes for an optimized internal collaboration
The complexity of information systems necessitates an internal master-file data alignment solution. In order to maintain the quality of this data over time, it is essential to integrate external alignment capabilities through the use of technologies of synchronization with outside partners.

Challenge for all retailers
Improve collaboration with trade partners, optimize quality of product data, and properly structure internal information management processes; a PIM solution offers a single, unified view of the information by integrating the management of the product's life-cycle:
- Searching for and requesting subscription to e-catalogs and data exchange networks
- Selecting products et controlling data quality
- Pre-listing products and enriching standard product files with private internal data
- Listing and diffusing data to external applications
- Maintaining product data in perfect synchronization with the applications gravitating around the Referential
The "Soft Solutions - HP - Intel" solution
The web merchandise suite from Soft Solutions - available on HP ProLiant and HP Integrity servers based on Intel Itanium processors - provides comprehensive and competitive solutions to the merchandising and marketing needs of world retailers. These solutions will be demonstrated in the context of the June 27 morning presentations.
The Speakers
Provera France (Groupe Louis Delhaize)
" Menouar Lounes is Manager of Merchandise Referential at Provera France purchase center, which manages purchases for Groupe Louis Delhaize banners such as Cora and Match supermarkets. After having taken up various functions - on the floor, in marketing and in purchases - and after having managed the crossing to the Euro at Cora, he was entrusted with implementing Provera purchase center's single, multi-country, multi-banner and multi-format Referential. In this capacity, he acquired a solid experience in the management of the product's life-cycle, from listing to diffusion to various banners."
Soft Solutions
" Virginie Héloire is currently Project Manager at Soft Solutions. She has implemented Master Data Management solutions for Eurotunnel, Groupe Louis Delhaize and Carrefour. She has acquired considerable experience and is recognized as an expert on "best practices" in Merchandise Data Management in Europe and the US. She conducts seminars and conferences in various countries on the implementation of a single referential."
HP
" Joel Bergmannis part of HP Services, Master Data Management (MDM) department. HP approaches MDM problematics from four tightly-knit perspectives: data standards, organizations responsible for data maintenance, maintenance processes, and MDM applications. HP's MDM department has accumulated significant experience in the execution of MDM projects as well as in the design, development, implementation of, and support for applications that run MDM processes in the company."
Intel
" Yves Aillerie, director of Intel's retail market in France, and several other Intel representatives will be present at the seminar and available for sharing their experience and expertise on information architectures adapted to secure, real-time management of large-volume data."
KSA
" Laurent Thoumine is Senior Manager with Kurt Salmon Associates, international consultancy firm dedicated to retail businesses. In this capacity, he has intervened with several European companies over the last few years by way of helping them rethink their referential. These interventions have led KSA to set up an MDM "Framework" that allows framing the construction of 6 fundamental components (Data Quality, Organization, Processes, Objects, Architecture and Solutions)."
  SOFITEL
157 avenue de la Marne
59700 MARCQ EN BAROEUL
FRANCE
Tel : (+33)3/28331212
Fax : (+33)3/28331224
E-mail : H1099@accor.com
[Click To View Map]
FROM DUNKERQUE, A25 HIGHWAY DIR. LILLE, EXIT 7, N352 DIR. LOMME-ROUBAIX, FOLLOW ROUBAIX CENTRE, EXIT WASQUEHAL-CROIX, FOLLOW D64 UNTIL AV DE LA MARNE.
FROM PARIS, A1 HIGHWAY DIR. LILLE, AFTER LESQUIN, N227 ROUBAIX AND A22 HIGHWAY, EXIT 12 CHATEAU ROUGE
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, TRAM STATION "CHATEAU ROUGE" DIRECTION "TOURCOING"
08.03.2006 -Announcement
This is to inform you that Mr. Jeremy Hollows is no longer with the company and effectively immediately, Ms. Jasmine Vandendorpe is assuming the position as Managing Director of the company's operations in the UK.
Ms. Vandendorpe has been with Soft Solutions for over six years and has held a number of leadership positions at Soft Solutions prior to this assignment. Please direct all inquiries regarding the company's UK activities to Ms. Vandendorpe or myself. Ms. Vandendorpe can be contacted via email at vandendorpe.jasmine@softsolutionsuk.com.

We continue to be committed to the UK and Northern European markets. We appreciate your continued interest and support of Soft Solutions during this transition.

Chief Executive Officer
NRF Jan. 2006 15-18
The National Retail Federation show takes place in New York from January 15 to 18. Please plan to visit with us at our exhibit, Booth 1381. In addition to our own exhibit at booth, Soft Solutions will be sponsoring a technology standards demonstration highlighting the power of agile pricing in the ARTS Pavilion. Soft Solutions will be joined by technology leaders as a part of this demonstration project. We look forward to welcoming old and new friends at the show
17- 18.11. 2005 -Boreland Conference
Moving J2EE applications onto various application servers: Vtitleech - Soft Solutions - Pierre Eid - J2EE JB OP Soft Solutionsdevelops decision-support applications for the retail business. Originally developed on BEA 6.1, these applications have been also carried over to Websphere and Oracle AS
In the presentation, we will be describing:
- Our product architecture
- Methodology used in approaching a move
- Problems encountered and solutions discovered
- Impact of smallest-common-denominator approach on our architecture (persistence domain)
- EDI (JBuilder) role
- Tests after the move (via Optimizeit ServerTrace)
25.10.2005 -Add The Global Data Synchronization Network(GDSN)
Brussels, Belguim,October 25, 2005 - GS1 GDSN, Inc. announced today that twenty-six Data Pools and the GS1 Global Registry successfully passed the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) Interoperability Certification test.
The GDSN, supported by GS1, leading companies and industry groups worldwide is a global, Internet-based initiative that enables retailer and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturer trading partners to quickly and efficiently exchange supply chain data that is accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with the universally supported GS1 System of standards. By synchronising data in the GDSN, companies quickly realise benefits such as reduced shipping errors, lower transportation costs, faster speed to market for new products, and fewer out-of-stocks.

The GDSN Interoperability Certification event began 27 June 2005, and was conducted by Drummond Group Inc. (DGI), a leading interoperability and conformance testing company. For a data pool to be successful in the certification process, the company had to demonstrate full interoperability with all other participating data pools and the GS1 Global Registry V 2.0 using DGI's Interoperability Compliance Process®, a robust interoperability methodology. Data pools were measured against a set of development standards established by GDSN, as well as test plans and criteria defined by DGI. DGI administered the testing in a neutral, cooperative and non-competitive environment and maintained strict vendor neutrality to assure integrity of the testing process. "We are pleased to see that the number of certified data pools has increased by almost three times from the 2004 certification event. Sixteen of the twenty-six data pools are GS1 country Member Organisations, a clear sign of the global market need for GDSN compliant data synchronisation", said Miguel Angel Lopera, CEO of GS1. "This represents significant progress in the last 10 months."
Soft Solutions has successfully completed the 2005 GDSN Interoperability Certification test .
12.04. 2005 - Profil Co. Recruitment forum for business functions
For 16 years, Soft Solutions has held a leader position in the development of decision-support solutions for retail. As a designer and publisher of software geared for the needs and requirements of the retail business, Soft Solutions invests all its resources in addressing the problems associated with sourcing, listing, purchasing, assortments, promotions, pricing and marketing, and implementing the respective proper solutions.
Join an international and multicultural company where you may put your retail experience to the test and broaden the scope of your competence by acquiring a strategic view of retail's inroads. Take part in the international projects of the world-class actors in retail.
07.04. 2005 - Managing purchase centers and supplier profitability
The structure and the volume of the gross margin (17% to 25%) are managed well ahead of the selling process. Up to 80% of the cost structure depends on the products' purchase value. A 1% profit on the conditions would generate with certain retailers up to 30% additional net profit. KSA's and Soft Solutions' "Gross Margin" acceleration programs are in a position to ensure significant profits:
- Optimization of the negotiation process
- Innovation in and automation of the processes of trade management
- Improvement of supplier profitability
Buy better in order to sell better
In the current context of the wearing down of the consumers' buying power, and the margins contraction subsequent to the price wars, retailers must reconsider the options for managing their purchase centers. Knowing how to sell is primarily about how to buy; best conditions on different product segments, optimizing the profitability of the supplier portfolio.
Soft Solutions Suite - and mainly ibs Deals & ibs Assortment - contribute to achieving the following objectives:
- Constructing product offer and selecting products that best meet consumer needs.
- Managing negotiation with suppliers in order to secure margin points.
- Managing supplier ontracts and invoices, with real-time treasury follow-up in order to ensure the recovery of negotiated amounts.
Associés Kurt Salmon
KSA is the first management-and-technology consulting firm specialized in retail and consumer goods. We help our clients achieve significant profits through integrated performance-enhancement: Growth strategies, improvement of operational margins, stock optimization, Productivity of operations, technological solutions, ...
Soft Solutions
Soft Solutions is the european specialist of decision-support software geared for merchandise management in professional retail industry. Soft Solutions Suite homes in its activities on improving retailers' results by optimizing assortment management and offer construction, supplier negotiations and purchases management, promotion construction and price policy definition and execution at purchase center and store levels respectively.
29.02 - 2 Mar. 2005 - Marketechnics conference, mid-February 2005
Soft Solutions exhibited for the first time at Marketechnics , the Food Marketing Institute's annual information technology tradeshow, which took place from Feb 29th to Mar 2nd at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, California. The visits and feedback from retailers confirmed the success of and the growing interest in Soft Solutions and its product offerings.
Building on its track record of success in serving the merchandising and marketing needs of major retailers around the world, Soft Solutions has already signed its first major North American client. Los Angeles-based Smart & Final, a warehouse grocery chain with 230 locations, will go live with Soft Solutions ibs Pricing and ibs Promotions during the second quarter (of 2004?).

Through past work with some of the world's largest retailers, led by Carrefour, Soft Solutions has developed the industry's first comprehensive web-based merchandising suite. The product suite incorporates the best practices of global retailers, which will enable North American retailers to develop and execute merchandising strategies at all levels, thus increasing speed of adoption, execution and supplier collaboration.

Check out the Soft Solutions booth at the next industry trade show, RETAIL SYSTEMS SHOW, in Chicago from May 17th to May 19th, at the McCormack Center http://www.retailsystems.com).
17. 01. 2005 - New York, NY, January 17, 2005 ARTS has released
New York, NY, January 17, 2005 - The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) has released new IXRetail XML schemas to enable retailers to use common methods and maintain consistent and accurate data for all systems that create, manage or consume item and price data within the retail enterprise. The new Item Maintenance schema, the 10th standard XML schema developed by ARTS, is intended to communicate Item data from a central repository to stores ensuring synchronization of item data, a significant challenge for all retailers.
"ARTS IXRetail was founded to develop XML schemas to integrate applications within the retail enterprise," said Richard Mader Executive Director of ARTS. "When retailers and their software vendors asked ARTS to develop an Item and revised Price schema to complement POSlog, we proceeded carefully to avoid conflict or duplication with other standard groups working in the business to business space."

ARTS and the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) have worked together to ensure the Item schema incorporates the EAN. UCC's basic identification numbers, the GTIN
Global Trade Item Number and the GLN Global Location Number. Use of the GTIN and GLN enables the retailer's internal systems to communicate effectively with their trading partners.

"Through our cooperation a retailer can use the ARTS Item schema for internal operations and generate records which can be used for data synchronization," said Al Garton of the UCC. "This is a practical example of how standards groups can work together to enable a single implementation to serve multiple functions."

The Item Maintenance schema can be used to create, update, or delete item information held within store systems such as Point of Sale, Inventory Management, Layaway Management, or Returns Processing.
Version 2 of the Price schema complements the Item Maintenance schema by adding the downloading of prices and price rules to version 1 that was limited to Price Lookup capabilities. Price v2 supports special and promotional pricing based on basket, customer, time, location and other retailer established criteria.
Development of the Item schema was lead by Tim Hood, VP of Solution Architecture for Triversity. "Our work team took on a tremendous challenge. Item information is at the very heart of most retail systems and a great deal of research was required to ensure the schema contained all necessary data," he said. "Working with the UCC was of tremendous assistance."
Work team members included representatives from IBM, Datavantage, PCATS, Microsoft, Target and the IXRetail team in Japan. Ron McEvoy, COO of Soft Solutions, a retail software company based in France and certified by EAN.fr, made a special effort to ensure that the ARTS Item schema included the data necessary to support European customers.
Price version 2 was developed under the leadership of Dean Sleeper, CEO of AccessVia with the able a ssistance of Dave VanHorn of SofTechnics and representatives from El Corte Ingles, Blockbuster, Retek, Soft Solutions, Datavantage and Clicks and Mortar Consulting. Price v2 can serve as the distribution vehicle for Price Lookup data, a significant enhancement over v1.
The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS)
Is an international membership organization dedicated to reducing the costs of technology through standards. Since 1993, ARTS has been delivering application standards exclusively to the retail industry. ARTS has three standards: The Standard Relational Data Model, UnifiedPOS and IXRetail. Membership is open to all members of the international technology community- retailers from all industry segments, application developers and hardware companies. nrf-arts.org.
The National Retail Federation
Is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specititley, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 23 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2003 sales of $3.8 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations. nrf.com.
15.06.2004 -Soft Solutions and EAN UCC standard v1.3.1
The result of the EANnet.fr V2 certification tests undertaken on the 15th of June 2004 by the electronic catalog module marketed by your company under the name of ibs Retail Collaboration Suite  - version 5.0.9, release 4.14.49, has been presented to the members of the EANnet.fr Leading Committee on the 7th of July, 2004.
We have the pleasure of announcing that, after deliberation, the Leading Committee has granted the certification to your electronic catalog.

Effective immediately, you may use EANnet.fr V2 Certificate on your documentation. The conditions for the use of this Certificate are described in the contracts signed between our companies.

Yours sincerely

Benjamin COUTY

Christian LENOIR

Responsible of Catalog & Network Projects Director of Exploitation and Support
15.06.2004 -June 3rd, 2003 European Retail Solutions Awards ceremony
Some news from the June 3rd, 2003 European Retail Solutions Awards ceremony that took place at the opening evening of the Retail Solutions show at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, NEC, Birmingham in the UK. Some news, indeed!
The Retailer/Supplier-Partnership-of-the-Year award went to Groupe Louis Delhaize (GLD) and Soft Solutions on their Purchasing project.

This award “is presented to the retailer and supplier who have developed a successful partnership that has generated significant business benefits.”
Not unlike other ventures of its nature, the GLD purchasing project was a major challenge in many respects, on top of which it had its own set of specific problems that further intensified the challenge.

Facing that, GLD and Soft Solutions teams were in tune with each other over months, during which time the two teams succeeded in surmounting all obstacles (project-relevant ones as well as wayward ones) and constructing a model solution in a tribute, so to speak, to intelligence, performance and synergy.

This achievement was, in a way, a test for the mutual trust and support of the two teams, and an honor that was earned with dedication, commitment and intelligence. For our part, we at Soft Solutions always strive to sustain the level of excellence our clients have come to expect of us and which has been making the pride of our company.

We will continue to do so and the only award we aim for is our clients’ satisfaction. So far, we have had plenty of that.

We hope, in a sense, to be able to put our systems “where our mouth is” and provide you with tangible proof that the success story from the Retail Awards is not one of a kind and that it may be easily emulated in your case.

Sincerely
CEO
Soft Solutions