Oracle Strengthens Retail Management Apps With AVT Buy
Oracle expects to close the buyout by the end of 2008. Financial details were not disclosed. Managers and employees of Los Angeles-based AVT will join Oracle's Retail Global Business Unit.
AVT software is used by retailers and their suppliers to plan and design retail floor layouts. The application uses three-dimensional, photo-realistic views of stores to help retailers improve profitability through better space allocation and sales performance monitoring for specific stores, departments and even individual aisles.
"Product layout is critical to the success of any retail operation," said Stuart Williams, a senior analyst with Technology Business Research, in a report. "AVT allows retail vendors to coordinate the display and organization of their products on the floor with data from CRM and retail systems (which Oracle also sells) that help to optimize the mix."
Williams said AVT would help Oracle differentiate its retail apps from those from such competitors as SAP.