Success in retail comes down to having what customers want, when they want it, at a competitive price. Achieving that comes down to getting maximum value out of supply chains and employees, to keep costs under control and preserve margins. With that in mind, retailers are turning to the Web to help them better manage their supply chains. Online inventory-tracking applications integrate with order management tools to feed orders to partners up and down the chain. They also connect with internal applications that employees use to check stock data, order status, and other criteria. Similarly, corporate intranets keep employees up to speed on human resources information, as well as policies and procedures. Still more online applications manage customer loyalty programs, along with supplier and customer self-help tools.

In addition to these requirements, most retailers have an online counterpart that requires stellar Web application performance. These types of e-commerce Web sites are effective only when they are optimized for speed and availability. Without that combination, customers will go elsewhere. At the same time, Web sites must be kept secure against denial of service (DoS) and other attacks, for constant availability and to protect customers’ personal data, such as credit card details. This can be a tall order, especially when Web sites have a multitude of applications and functions to support, including Web-based catalogs, custom online transaction processing programs, and customer self-help capabilities.

Citrix helps retailers address these requirements, ensuring privacy for the sensitive financial and personal data flowing to and from Web sites, as well as ensuring desktop and application availability, given that downtime can mean lost revenue. Today, Citrix is relied upon by more than 200,000 organizations throughout the world, including 5 of the top 5 U.S. Internet services and retailing companies.

Starbucks outsources IT management to reduce costs.

E-Land Fashion Company takes on business expansion with a cohesive and consolidated view across the business.

DekaMarkt creates a dynamic scalable environment that enables rapid business growth.