Wet Seal Goes Paperless
Foothill Ranch, Calif.–based specialty retailer The Wet Seal, Inc. is investing in new software technology, which will outsource all of its internal and external transactions.
The system, supplied by St. Paul, Minn.–based SPS Commerce, will allow Wet Seal to exchange purchasing and invoice documents with suppliers at all levels of EDI (electronic data interchange) capability. The aim is to reduce the burdens associated with traditional paper, phone and fax transactions. Because SPS hosts the service, the implementation does not require a major technology investment for the retailer.
Wet Seal will onboard its suppliers with the service, which includes EDI testing and migration services to integrate the entire supplier base. Wet Seal will also be automating order management with SPS, which will allow the company to receive orders directly to its stores rather than through a distribution center.
As a result, the retailer should be able to cut costs, said Joe Decop, senior vice president of central planning and allocation for the retailer. Decop said the system should also make it easier for vendors.
“The Wet Seal is a prime example of how companies with little or no electronic transaction experience can leverage the power and capabilities of our hosted services to cost effectively streamline their processes,” said Archie Black, chief executive officer of SPS Commerce. —Robert McAllister
