Zara: IT for Fast Fashion

Abstract The case describes a discussion Zara Executives are having whether to update or to keep the current IT equipment of its stores. It goes into detail how the company works and that speed and adaptability are its key objectives. Finally the advantages of both options are shown, leaving it to the reader to decide which option is the best. Company Zara, based in La Coruna, Spain, was found in 1963. Since 1958 they are part of Inditex, a Holding Company atop several clothing retail chain. In 2002 they had about €3.9 billion in revenue and a net income of €438 million, with 11% net margin. Zara is the biggest retailer of the holding with 550 of the 1558 stores from the Inditex companys. Moreover it is responsible for 73,3% or Inditex’ revenues, coming 46% from Spain, with Fance as the second-largest market. Zaras woman sector has 60% contribution to its revenues; men and the fast-growing child sector both 20%. Product/System The store employees work with great autonomy and responsibility. They can choose which items they want to order from a given offer, which was chosen by the Product Store Manager. Each department gets new items 2 times a week. Commercials organize that orders and produced items match and decide in case of a mismatch which store gets the items. Zara does all of the production processes in Spain and Northern Portugal, making it possible that the time from design conception until it can be in store is as little as three weeks. Business Environment The main competitors of Inditex are Gap, H&M and Benetton. Like their competitors Zara also has a fall/winter and a spring/summer collection, but instead of the average 2.000 to 4.000 new items per year Zara introduces 11.000. Moreover Zara tries to adapt trends from customer instead of creating new ones and therefore only has a marketing budget from 0,3% of its revenue