Mothercare eases the path to international growth with Kewill

Published 3rd March 2010

March 3, 2010 – Guildford, UK – Kewill (LSE: KWL), a leading provider of solutions that simplify global trade and logistics, has provided Mothercare with a web-based order management solution, Kewill Trade, which has enabled the development of a flexible, scalable supply chain trading platform to support the rapid expansion of its international operations.

Through Kewill Trade, Mothercare issues, on average, 5,000 purchase orders electronically per week and receives on average 1,900 invoices electronically per day from suppliers. Kewill's system provides access to supply chain data including supplier inventory, purchase orders, ASN's and invoices and has inbuilt data integration points which allow the exchange of multiple formats of data with Mothercare's other business systems including merchandising and warehousing systems by JDA Software and Manhattan Associates.

James Blackburn, Enterprise Architect at Mothercare, said, "Kewill effectively provides the glue and string behind our supply chain operation, a combination of vital components that work together to form a sound foundation to trading."

Mothercare has ambitious plans to grow its business internationally with over 600 overseas stores already, stretching from South Africa to Russia and Australia. Much of this growth has been achieved by entering into joint ventures and franchise arrangements. The company announced its plans to open 200 Mothercare stores in India in September 2010.

Blackburn, said, "The Kewill solution supports the trading of our entire franchise network, yet none of the franchisees are aware of the involvement of a third party system. Suppliers find the system simple to use and the integration with Mothercare's own systems takes place seamlessly, behind the scenes, which is exactly the way it should be done."

He continues, "We're adding international stores at a rate of over 100 per year which brings a number of challenges to overcome. However, worrying about our IT infrastructure to support trading in each new country isn't one of them. The Kewill solution works, it's simple for new users and it delivers what we need. Kewill has continually proven its ability to work with us, understand our business requirements and help us utilise their systems and our own to respond flexibly to new market opportunities."


For additional information, contact:
Tanya Pring
Fieldworks Marketing
Tel. (UK) +44 (0)1435 873080
tanya@fieldworksmarketing.co.uk



About Mothercare

The Mothercare group is comprised principally of two retail brands with international appeal; Mothercare and Early Learning Centre.

The group's brands operate through three distinct channels to market; UK stores, Direct (being the in-home and in-store internet-based businesses and catalogue mail order), and International, under which the group franchises (or participates in joint venture) operations delivering the Mothercare and Early Learning Centre brand retail operations in overseas markets.

www.mothercare.com



About Kewill plc

Kewill delivers solutions that simplify global trade and logistics.

Global businesses face ever increasing complexity across their supply chains including decisions on sourcing, customs, compliance, transportation, storage, finance, visibility and connectivity. Inefficiency in any of these areas will lead to supply chain delays and result in increased costs.Kewill has a suite of software solutions that significantly simplify the management of the most complex global supply chains for enterprises and logistics service providers.

With over 35 years experience in global trade management and logistics, and over 600 employees worldwide, Kewill is a long-time innovator of solutions for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, freight forwarders, transport companies, customs brokers, 3PL's and 4PL's, as well as other related institutions involved in financing and underwriting global trade such as banks and insurance providers.

Kewill's solutions are in daily use by more than 40,000 users worldwide and our global customer base which entrusts us with the management of their supply networks includes divisions of 3M, Bayer, Caterpillar, DHL, FedEx, Ford, General Electric, General Motors, H.J. Heinz, Kimberley-Clark, Kraft, Levi Strauss, Mazda, Nestlé, Nike, Palm, Procter & Gamble, Smith & Nephew, Sony, TNT, Unilever, UPS, Vodafone, Yamaha, Xerox.

www.kewill.com