Technology

Boot Barn Steps into Centric PLM and Centric Visual Boards to Boost Efficiency

Published

1 year ago

November 25, 2024

Country-western retailer adds modern PLM and visual assortment boards to replace manual merchandising methods

CAMPBELL, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Centric Software® is pleased to announce that Boot Barn has selected Centric PLMTM and Centric Visual BoardsTM to drive efficiency and enable rapid growth. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source, buy, make, price, allocate, sell and replenish products such as fashion, outdoor, luxury, footwear, home and related goods like cosmetics & personal care as well as multi-category retail to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.  

Experiencing Centric PLM 10 years ago has given me a front row seat to witness its remarkable evolution and ongoing innovation

Founded in 1978 and based in Irvine, California, Boot Barn is the largest country western and work wear retailer in the US, with over 425 retail stores in 46 states. The chain is growing, buoyed by their 12 private label brands. The goal is to continue its 15% annual increase of new store openings and to have a presence in every state.

Rapid growth is one of the compelling reasons that Boot Barn sought a PLM solution. Its private label/exclusive brands (EB) business burgeoned to over $600 million — 38% of total revenue — in a relatively short time period.

Julie Ting, VP of Information Technology at Boot Barn notes that the company used to carry almost all third-party or national brands. They then started up their EB division. “As you can imagine, when you have only a handful of styles and a couple million dollars of sales, everything can be maintained manually as far as designing, tech packs and communication with vendors. We were very old-school: emails and sending spreadsheet files back and forth. But as our EB business continued to grow, then ultimately explode, it became too arduous to operate that way at scale. Now with thousands of styles and millions of units of inventory, it’s much more difficult to do that.”

Boot Barn launched a search for a PLM platform over the course of a few years. They evaluated the main players; what the product offer was, the profile in the market, what clients those vendors had and who could support the complexity of Boot Barn’s business. Ting had experienced Centric PLM in a different role 10 years prior. She makes an interesting observation “Experiencing Centric PLM 10 years ago has given me a front row seat to witness its remarkable evolution and ongoing innovation”.

Another addition since the early years is Centric Visual Boards. Ting describes the current state of assortment planning. “Our design, merchandising and buying teams are very visual. We currently do assortment planning through Excel spreadsheets but try to layer in the visual element and it’s really cumbersome. It is an old-school paper doll model. But there is also the KPI-driven element that the teams must consider.

“Centric Visual Assortment Boards is an eloquent easy-to-use solution that is integrated to PLM. It’s intuitive. To be able to slice and dice how the product is being offered, you can see how it could roll! Centric Visual Boards meets the teams where they are in their process. They are very excited about how dynamic and user-friendly the platform is.”

Because Boot Barn product assortments consist of clothing and footwear for workwear, there are UL certifications and testing that must be met and maintained. Government departments that oversee imported leathers must also be satisfied. Ting shares, “The certifications and licensing have to follow the product and the POs from the manufacturing locations into the US to ensure everything is in order. They need to be available readily. Right now managing and tracking all of that is very manual for our expanding exclusive brands business, so we are eager to manage that function in PLM.”

Centric PLM will also add granularity to costing to alleviate some tariff pressure. Ting shares, “We use thousands of spreadsheets and emails so we can’t easily see costs. Having visibility into the details of our BOMs with Centric PLM will result in better costing since we’ll be able to source particular components across our hundreds of global vendors.”

“Using Centric PLM and Centric Visual Boards together will be a lot more efficient and productive. There will be a reduction in the number of interactions and emails across the board.” Ting continues, “We signed an extended contract because we really believe in the product, the organization and in the long-term relationship with Centric.”

Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software says, “We are thrilled that Boot Barn has placed their trust in us. Our industry experts will impart best practices to increase productivity in this exciting phase of growth. We know the merchandising, sourcing and planning teams will be delighted with the unique, visual decision-making power that Centric Visual Boards bring to the table.”

https://www.centricsoftware.com/l/35842/2024-11-25/wdhpn8 [Learn more about Centric Software __title__ Learn more about Centric Software]
See Centric AI-Powered Solutions in action at https://www.centricsoftware.com/l/35842/2024-09-12/wd6tjs [NRF 2025, Booth #6257 __title__ NRF 2025, Booth #6257]
https://www.centricsoftware.com/l/35842/2024-11-25/wdhpnc [Request a demo __title__ Request a demo]

Boot Barn (http://www.bootbarn.com)

What started out as one store in 1978 has since become the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation. We say that our customers feed America, build America, and protect America. With an uncompromising desire to support the local communities we serve, we proudly offer the broadest selection of cowboy boots, work boots, western wear, workwear, western-inspired fashion, and outdoor gear. It is an honor to support the varying lifestyles of the people who make our country so great. Our vision is simple: to offer everyone a piece of the American spirit—one handshake at a time.

Media Contact

Aurore Evee, Centric Software, +16479155377, aurore.evee@centricsoftware.com, www.centricsoftware.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/boot-barn-steps-into-centric-plm-and-centric-visual-boards-to-boost-efficiency-302315668.html

SOURCE Boot Barn

Technology

Baidu to Report First Quarter 2026 Financial Results on May 18, 2026

Published

11 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

BEIJING, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the First Quarter 2026 ended March 31, 2026, before the U.S. market opens on May 18, 2026. Baidu’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM on May 18, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM on May 18, 2026, Beijing Time).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Baidu Inc. Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registering, you will then be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you as a calendar invite.

For pre-registration, please click:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10054331-iu876y.html

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), the passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.baidu.com.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until May 25, 2026:
US: 1 855 883 1031
Reply PIN: 10054331

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and the HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-to-report-first-quarter-2026-financial-results-on-may-18-2026-302751204.html

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

Technology

Phase 1 of 139th Canton Fair Introduces New Dedicated Product Zones as Emerging Technologies Take Center Stage

Published

11 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

GUANGZHOU, China, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has further optimized its exhibition landscape with nine new dedicated product zones, reflecting ongoing structural shifts in global trade and the continued upgrading of China’s export portfolio.

Among the most closely watched additions in Phase 1 are the consumer and agricultural drone zones, both making their debut at the Canton Fair and offering a focused showcase of applications in the low‑altitude economy. The consumer drone zone showcases progress in flight control, AI‑based obstacle avoidance and energy efficiency across imaging, tourism, emergency response and patrol. The agricultural drone zone highlights precision farming, with spraying, seeding and field‑management demonstrations showing terrain‑following, intelligent route planning, and precise payload control.

On day one, a Shandong‑based drone manufacturer welcomed buyers from 30+ countries, with over 50 strong leads. One buyer, after seeing load and wind‑resistance demonstrations, immediately confirmed three sample units and even proposed becoming a regional distributor.

Display technology is another focal point of Phase 1, highlighting advances in color accuracy, energy efficiency, and overall visual performance. Developments in fine‑grained control, expanded color gamut, and reduced power consumption point to a clear trend toward immersive viewing experiences combined with sustainability gains.

The smart wearables zone underscores how intelligent devices are becoming key interfaces for human‑machine interaction. From real‑time language translation and adaptive noise cancellation to long‑term health monitoring and AI‑enabled eyewear, wearables are evolving from standalone products into integrated systems that support communication, well‑being, and productivity across daily and professional settings.

The service robots zone further illustrates how artificial intelligence is moving from conceptual exploration to large‑scale deployment. Advanced robots showcased across industrial, commercial, medical, and public‑service scenarios demonstrate growing autonomy, multi‑sensory perception, and closer human-robot collaboration.

By bringing emerging technologies into clearer focus through dedicated zones, the 139th Canton Fair is reinforcing its function as a platform where trade trends take shape, innovation meets application, and global buyers gain early insights into cutting-edge technologies.

For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2963958/1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/phase-1-of-139th-canton-fair-introduces-new-dedicated-product-zones-as-emerging-technologies-take-center-stage-302751520.html

Technology

OZMOSI Announces Strategic Partnership with Planview to Advance AI-Driven Planning in Pharmaceutical R&D

Published

11 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

By combining structured clinical intelligence with AI-driven portfolio planning, the partnership gives pharmaceutical teams a faster, clearer way to make high-stakes R&D decisions

SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, N.J., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OZMOSI, a leading provider of structured pharmaceutical development intelligence, today announced a strategic partnership with Planview, the leading AI-powered end-to-end platform for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and Digital Product Delivery (DPD).

By integrating OZMOSI’s machine-readable clinical datasets directly into Planview’s AI-driven portfolio planning platform, external scientific data is now connected to internal R&D planning in one system, helping pharmaceutical organizations better predict market shifts, prioritize R&D investments, and make faster, more confident decisions.

This integration brings external clinical reality into internal R&D decision-making, so teams can plan based on what’s actually happening, not just on what they hope will happen.

The two organizations combine deep expertise in complementary areas, united by a shared focus on improving the quality and usability of data for strategic decision-making. OZMOSI provides structured, machine-readable intelligence across clinical trials, drug development programs, regulatory activity, and scientific literature, built on a consistent taxonomy that standardizes how data is connected and understood. Planview’s platform enables organizations to model complex investment scenarios, align initiatives with corporate strategy, and optimize resource allocation.

Together, these capabilities give teams a clearer, more complete view of the R&D landscape, grounded in clean, standardized data and strengthened by AI-driven analysis.

“AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it,” said Beau Bush, President and Founder of OZMOSI. “Pharmaceutical organizations have no shortage of data, but too often it’s fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to operationalize. By bringing OZMOSI’s structured data foundation together with Planview’s AI-driven planning capabilities, we’re enabling teams to move beyond disconnected analysis and toward truly integrated, forward-looking decision-making.”

“Strategic planning in pharmaceutical R&D is becoming increasingly dependent on advanced analytics and AI,” said Louise Allen, Chief Product Officer at Planview. “Integrating OZMOSI’s clinical intelligence into Planview’s platform enables pharmaceutical leaders to make better decisions by combining trusted external data with AI-driven planning

OZMOSI’s dataset spans more than 800,000 clinical trials, over 35,000 drugs, and 4,000 diseases and conditions. It brings together insights from clinical trial registries, regulatory filings, scientific literature, company disclosures, and industry announcements into a unified, structured dataset.

When integrated into Planview’s platform, this intelligence enables pharmaceutical and biotech organizations to evaluate competitive landscapes, identify emerging clinical trends, and simulate portfolio outcomes with unprecedented precision.

Together, OZMOSI and Planview are redefining how pharmaceutical organizations approach R&D strategy, ensuring that investment decisions are guided by accurate, standardized, and AI-ready data. By combining internal portfolio visibility with a continuously updated external view of the market, the partnership helps leaders not only understand what they have, but what to do next.

About OZMOSI

Founded in 2013, OZMOSI specializes in transforming complex pharmaceutical R&D intelligence into structured, machine-readable data. The company provides the foundation needed for accurate competitive analysis, product forecasting, and portfolio strategy. Through its proprietary taxonomy and semantic layer, OZMOSI connects fragmented data across the pharmaceutical ecosystem, enabling faster, more confident decision-making for global pharma, biotech, and investment teams.

Based in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, OZMOSI is focused on making pharmaceutical intelligence clear, usable, and ready for the future of AI-driven strategy. Learn more at www.ozmosi.com.

About Planview

Planview is the leading end-to-end platform for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and Digital Product Delivery (DPD), powered by advanced AI capabilities that give business and technology leaders the strategic foresight to prioritize investments and initiatives, make plans real within constraints, and pivot with certainty when things change. Our AI-driven connected platform of solutions underpins the business and digital transformations of more than 3,000 customers and 3.1 million users globally. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Planview has over 1,500 employees worldwide. Learn more at www.planview.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ozmosi-announces-strategic-partnership-with-planview-to-advance-ai-driven-planning-in-pharmaceutical-rd-302750944.html

SOURCE Ozmosi Company