Centric Software Fits Into the Third Dimension

Responding to market demand for innovations to digitally transform product design and development, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) leader Centric Software announces the availability of a new 3D Sample Review mobile app. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

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Fit is a key component of a brand's DNA yet it is also an enormous challenge for fashion and apparel companies to execute. In the era of inclusive and adaptive design, apparel makers work to meet consumer demand for clothing that fits a variety of body shapes, heights and sizes. With 3D technology gaining in maturity across fashion and retail, businesses are turning to 3D, virtual reality and augmented reality tools to meet rising customer expectations and solve the fit challenge.

The traditional fit review process is one of the most time-consuming and expensive parts of getting a product from the design stage to final production for retail. A live fit model tries on each physical sample in order for it to be perfected by a team of product designers, developers and pattern-makers who take pictures of the garment on the model, direct corrections to one another and make notes. Back at their desks, photos have to be uploaded to a computer, edited and uploaded again to a PLM system, and notes have to be typed up or transferred. This process is followed for every sample. In addition, samples are time consuming and expensive to procure and track.

Several years ago working with innovation partner Fast Retailing, Centric Software introduced the Sample Review mobile app for PLM and dramatically transformed the fit review process of physical samples. Using a smartphone or tablet, product development teams take photos and add comments in Centric PLM in real time during fit review sessions to reduce rework and save time. Now, Centric has taken this technology a step further with 3D Sample Review mobile app.

"In response to feedback from our key innovation partners and Customer Advisory Board, we have developed a virtual 3D sample request and review tool," says Humberto Roa, VP of Innovation at Centric Software. "With Centric's 3D Sample Review mobile app, users review digital samples created by 3D vendors or in-house artists in virtual fit scenarios, add comments and receive amended digital samples without leaving the PLM environment. These digital assets can be attached to style data and incorporated into active line plans, giving an up-to-date view of where each product is in the sampling and review process."

"The most obvious benefit of 3D sampling is that it saves a huge amount of time, money and labor and increases the number of design iterations," continues Roa. "Making physical samples involves a significant material and labor cost, and typically takes a couple of weeks per iteration. Inevitably there are changes to be made, another sample is produced, the reviewing cycle continues. It can take months to produce a final sample and begin production whereas with 3D, design and fit iterations are quick thus more design proposals can be reviewed prior to go to market."

"Centric's 3D Sample Review cuts out many steps from the traditional sampling process, reducing time to market and improving the quality of the final product. In addition, photo-realistic visualization of a design concept supports rapid decision-making and greater accuracy in costing, Bills of Material (BOMs) and the manufacturing process."

Centric's 3D Sample Review mobile app was developed in partnership with Fast Retailing and presented at PI Apparel New York City in June 2018.

"We are excited to announce that we are adding significant 3D capabilities to Centric PLM, beginning with 3D Sample Review," says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. "Responding to market demands, we continue to develop innovative, digital transformation solutions to drive growth and competitiveness."

Contact us for a demo or more information.

Centric Software (http://www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in trend capitals around the world, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods.  Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) is a visual, fully digital collection of boards for touch-based devices like iPad, iPhone and large-scale, touch-screen televisions. Centric VIP transforms decision making and automates execution to truly collapse time to market and distance to trend. Centric's flagship product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, business planning, quality, and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB packages extended PLM including innovative technology and key industry learnings tailored for small businesses.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards, including the Frost & Sullivan Global Product Differentiation Excellence Award in Retail, Fashion, and Apparel PLM in 2016 and Frost & Sullivan's Global Retail, Fashion, and Apparel PLM Product Differentiation Excellence Award in 2012. Red Herring named Centric to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.