DemandTec Strengthens Cloud Analytics Suite

 

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NRF 101st Annual Convention and EXPO -- DemandTec, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMAN), the collaborative analytics cloud for retailers and consumer products companies, today announced its quarterly product update scheduled for January 30, when all existing customers will access new capabilities in the cloud.  This release delivers new features spanning assortment optimization, transfer pricing, shopper insights, master calendar, and partner apps on the DemandTec network.

Significant enhancements to be delivered in the upcoming release include:

• Assortment Optimization: DemandTec will deploy an all-new, cloud-native instance of the Assortment Optimization app.  Merchants, category managers, and invited manufacturer trading partners can understand essential assortment planning insights including product incrementality and transferable demand.
• Transfer Pricing: Designed specifically for the European market and other retailers employing a franchise-based business model, transfer pricing allows a central planning organization to import and manage prices at the store level.
• Shopper Insights:  As the leader in providing insights into consumer demand at the shopper segment level, DemandTec continues to enhance the value and usability of the application.  New features help merchants and marketers identify product affinities and co-merchandising opportunities which lead to segment specific improvements in sales and loyalty.
• Master Calendar: This central planning dashboard will offer a complete view of all related merchandising and marketing activities.  The latest release introduces new features to enhance usability and completeness of the calendar views.
• Event Review: For Customer Trade Planning users, Event Review reconciles planned events with actual results directly in the app.  This new feauture provides essential analytical context to improve future trade planning decisions on the DemandTec network.
• Partner Apps: Our newest partner app, WeatherTrends on DemandTec, offers temperature and precipitation forecasts up to 11 months in advance providing  an edge in understanding consumer demand, timing market launches and campaigns, and tailoring assortments for local market conditions.

"DemandTec's mission is to revolutionize decision-making for retailers and consumer products companies and give them the tools to always deliver the right product, at the right price, in the right place, and at the right time," said Marc Dietz, Vice President of Marketing for DemandTec.  "This product release delivers on that mission with deeper analytics, improved app and network usability, and faster time to success for our customers and community members."

IBM recently announced its intention to acquire DemandTec to enhance its Smarter Commerce initiative.  Over 2,000 of the world's top brands across retail and other industries rely on IBM to improve their business insight and execution.  The acquisition is subject to DemandTec shareholder approval, applicable regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2012. Those interested in learning more about IBM's Smarter Commerce offerings can visit the IBM booth here at the National Retail Federation EXPO in New York, January 15 – 18 or online at www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smarter_commerce/overview/.

DemandTec has approximately 500 customers worldwide in retail, consumer products and other industries. Retail industry segments served include grocery, drug, convenience, consumer electronics, office supplies, apparel, department stores, and quick-serve restaurants. Manufacturer segments include fast moving consumer goods categories such as food, beverage, and health & beauty. DemandTec also has a portfolio of 31 patents in the areas of pricing, response analysis, and promotion analysis.

About DemandTec

DemandTec (NASDAQ:DMAN) is a network of cloud apps and insights for more than 500 retailers and consumer products companies, providing common solutions to transact, interact, and collaborate on core merchandising and marketing activities.  DemandTec's services enable customers to achieve their sales volume, revenue, shopper loyalty, and profitability objectives.  Approximately 16,000 retailer and manufacturer end-users on DemandTec collaborated on more than five million trade deals to date.  DemandTec software and analytical services utilize a science-based platform to model and understand consumer behavior.  DemandTec customers include leading retailers and consumer products companies such as Ahold USA, Best Buy, ConAgra Foods, Delhaize America, General Mills, H-E-B Grocery Co., The Home Depot, Monoprix, PETCO, Safeway, Sara Lee, Target, Walmart, and WH Smith.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication, including statement regarding the proposed transaction between IBM and DemandTec, the expected timetable for completing the transaction, benefits and synergies of the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and products and any other statements regarding IBM and DemandTec's future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects constitute forward-looking statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (collectively, forward-looking statements). Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions) should also be considered forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the parties' ability to consummate the transaction; the conditions to the completion of the transaction, including the receipt of stockholder approval, court approval or the regulatory approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the arrangement within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate DemandTec's operations into those of IBM; such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction; the retention of certain key employees of DemandTec may be difficult; IBM and DemandTec are subject to intense competition and increased competition is expected in the future; fluctuations in foreign currencies could result in transaction losses and increased expenses; the volatility of the international marketplace; and the other factors described in IBM's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and in its most recent quarterly report filed with the SEC, and DemandTec's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011 and in its most recent quarterly report filed with the SEC. IBM and DemandTec assume no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

Media Contact:
Armen Najarian, DemandTec, Inc.
(650) 645-7170
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Tim Shanahan, DemandTec, Inc.
(650) 645-7103
[email protected]

DemandTec and the DemandTec logo are registered trademarks of DemandTec, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE DemandTec