Retailers share data strategies

PHILADELPHIA -- The AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum drew to a close here yesterday, culminating in a 90-minute Buyer Panel discussion that focused on data.

The session again highlighted the different approaches adopted by Home Depot and Lowe's in the data synchronization area -- with Lowe's participating in the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) and Home Depot announcing it intends to roll out its own HomeDepotLink and receive data directly from suppliers. Also represented on the panel were Do it Best and military-base retailer Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).

The three-day event focused on a long list of matters of varying degrees of complexity and included sessions on negotiation techniques and the latest cool new handheld gadgets. More than 100 people attended the forum. That number is down from prior years, but according to Terry Gallagher, a spokesman for the AHMA, "giving the economy, we're happy with the attendance."

Perhaps the highlight was the final Buyer Panel, during which Home Depot and Lowe's elaborated on their different directions regarding GDSN -- directions that were explored in sessions earlier in the conference.

Michelle Adams, director of merchandising operations for Lowe's, pointed to the benefits of GDSN -- "Synch with one, synch with many," she said, adding that there are many common vendors supplying data to Lowe's, Wal-Mart and other retailers who embrace GDSN.

"If you invested the time and invested the energy to understand  how to do this and make it work in your organization then why not leverage it across all the retailers who are participating in the space," Adams said. "Certainly we believe this is a collaborative effort.  We would to see you guys synching with other retailers because we know that that benefits you, which in turn benefits us."

Contrastingly, Home Depot's Brian Wallace, senior director of merchandising operations, embraced a proprietary data solution in the form of HomeDepotLink, which will be launched later this year.

"This will enable suppliers to directly submit product information, marketing data and supply chain data to Home Depot," he said. "So this is a big shift and a big change in direction. And one that will enable us to really work with our suppliers more effectively to set up and maintain accurate information."

While Do it Best is not involved in the Global Data Synchronization Network, Scott Christen, IT support manager, said the co-op is not ignoring the issue. "We've been paying attention, and we've been cleaning up our own house, implementing a product information management system and centralizing it," he said.

And at the AAFES, Sean Shaw, eBusiness director, said has been involved in three years in data synchronization. "The first couple years had "challenges," he said. He described the opportunities to benefit from data synch in the future as "incredibly bright."

The event featured almost 40 educational sessions, as well as a small vendor alley where technology companies set up displays. In one session called "Inspector Gadget," Carl Drisko, global strategic partner executive for Novell explained the benefits of cell phone projectors, virtual keyboards and the Amazon Kindle, a digital reading device. He also highlighted the danger of digital security -- pointing to a slide that showed computer and data theft now rank second only to automobile theft.

In a session called Negotiation Tips & Strategies, Jessica Butler, principal of Attain Consulting Group, cautioned against responding to rude e-mails in like kind. When somebody sends you an e-mail in all caps and exclamation points, do not send them back an e-mail in all caps and exclamation points, she advised, unless you want to escalate the situation to a point where constructive communication is no longer possible.

Next year's AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum, the 20th anniversary of the event, is slated for Schaumburg, Ill., April 18 to 20, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel.