Cost cutting .... the mantra everywhere ...

2009... tough year for us all. Global meltdown, dwindling sales, nose diving profits ... need to survive.  Focus on cost cutting ... cost optimization, elimination of excess .. the works. 

How can information systems help .. in such scenario? 

My personal thoughts ... it can help a retailer differentiate themselves from competition without any doubt in my mind. 

Here in our organization this is precisely what we are working on.

Trying to optimize supply chain, reducing excess inventories out of the system , improving customer experience at the POS, enabling tighter execution of operations all with the help of information technology. This would surely help us survive the tough times. More tomorrow on how we are doing this ... Any thoughts from anyone appreciated on how others do this.