Going global is the next big step for U.S. retailers, but it’s going to take some effort to succeed across the pond.
Data cited in a recent article on InvestorPlace.com highlighted a global demand for U.S. brands: online sales that originate outside the U.S., including in Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific rim, are expected to increase 67 percent between 2011 and 2015. In comparison, online sales within the U.S. are expected to increase 42 percent.
While only some U.S. retailers offer international shipping, those companies are benefiting significantly. Last quarter, one clothing retailer saw its international sales climb 62 percent while U.S. sales only grew 4 percent.
Retailers must upgrade their e-commerce technology to handle overseas distribution. For example, international addresses often do not fit the standard American format, such as the five- or nine-digit zip codes. U.S. retailers need to also deal with multi-currency, multi-language and multi-company issues.
Dynamics AX addresses all these issues by offering companies a way to segment their financials. This is especially helpful in the case of mergers and for countries that have complex tax structures. Dynamics AX can handle all these areas and it’s flexible enough to adapt to the new business processes.
Source: InvestorPlace, March 2012
