Selfridges has started piloting QRS Catalogue and electronic data interchange (EDI) with seven of its suppliers and expects to form e-commerce links with around 300 by the end of next year.
In early trials with Tommy Hilfiger, the retailer was able to cut purchase order creation from 26 days to just two.
The QRS Catalogue, widely used by US department stores, provides a common pool of product information, so retailers no longer need to spend days setting up product files to create orders. Typically, this accounts for two-thirds of the time needed to generate purchase orders.
After developing the necessary middleware to link the Catalogue to its Retek merchandising system, Selfridges is now ready to extend the programme.
Pilots with Estee Lauder and G Costa went live last month, with Samsonite, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Wacoal and Calvin Klein Cosmetics being implemented.
Selfridges is the first UK customer for QRS Catalogue. Buying and merchandise director David Riddiford said: 'Suppliers need to start thinking in a totally different way. Rather than developing a bespoke EDI relationship with each retailer, they have one link with QRS, which can then be used by every retailer they trade with.'
Selfridges is already talking to other department store chains, including House of Fraser, Harrods and Allders, about adopting QRS Catalogue as a sector-wide initiative.
Selfridges issues around 100,000 purchase orders each year, usually for less than£1,000. Moving its top 300 suppliers to QRS Catalogue would cover around 50 per cent of total purchase orders.
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