SourceGo and Verio Team Up for Online Procurement
SourceGo, a new online procurement service for apparel retailers and manufacturers, has chosen the security verification services of Englewood, Colo.–based Verio Inc.
SourceGo brings together retailers and importers with overseas factories, allowing them to collaborate online and negotiate the pricing and delivery of textile and apparel products, finalize business transactions and track the processing and shipment of goods, as well as make payments.
Verio, a subsidiary of NTT Communications, will use its IntelliSecurity services to safeguard data being transferred via SourceGo. Verio developed an architecture made up of multiple dedicated high-end application servers and a managed firewall. A dedicated online SQL server operates SourceGo’s database of textile and apparel variations, including massive files of drawings and technical information.
“Modern technology, including hosted applications such as SourceGo, will continue to improve the efficiency of the industry, which in turn will increase speed-to-market while lowering the cost of products for end users,” said Tom Eggleston, chief executive officer of SourceGo.
Pilot tests conducted by SourceGo resulted in time and cost reductions of up to 80 percent. The tests showed a lowered cost of goods sold, fewer markdowns and better sell-through rates.
“When a brand or retailer is formulating its next season’s fashion offering, there are a staggering number of options to be decided,” Eggleston said. “For example, after a look is created, decisions have to be made on yarn, fabric and fabric type, plain or pattern, collar style, thread color, button style, and color and sleeve length. The list goes on and on. All of this data is stored on the server and accessible to each creator. This is true for every style developed for every season by every one of our end-user customers.”
SourceGo has offices in Shanghai, Washington, D.C., and Miami. For more information, visit www.sourcego.com. —Robert McAllister
