Centric Software has announced a customer success story highlighting how Zak! Designs, a global manufacturer of licensed consumer housewares, achieved 200% revenue growth after implementing Centric PLM to streamline product development and improve operational efficiency.
Headquartered in Washington State, USA, Zak! Designs develops licensed drinkware and tableware featuring globally recognized entertainment brands. Its products are sold through major retail chains and online marketplaces worldwide.
Modernising Product Development
As its licensed product portfolio expanded, Zak! Designs sought to modernize its product development process, centralize product information, and improve collaboration without increasing headcount.
Prior to implementing Centric PLM, the company relied on multiple disconnected tools, making it difficult to track projects, licensing approvals, and product data.
According to Raymond Shill, Vice President of IT at Zak! Designs, the absence of a centralized product development system often made it challenging to answer business-critical questions and identify project bottlenecks.
Improved Visibility and Faster Processes
Following the implementation of Centric PLM, Zak! Designs integrated the platform with its ERP system, creating a unified view of product development activities.
The company reported several operational improvements, including:
- Achieving 200% revenue growth without expanding its product development team.
- Reducing item setup time by more than 99%, bringing it down to less than one minute.
- Eliminating a manual item-numbering process that saved approximately one-and-a-half person-years of workload annually.
- Converting product records from complete SKUs into detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs) with comprehensive component-level information.
The new system also provides real-time visibility into project status, licensing approvals, and workflow bottlenecks, enabling more informed decision-making.
Supporting Future Growth
Zak! Designs said the platform provides a foundation for continuous process improvement as the business continues to expand globally.
Commenting on the implementation, Raymond Shill said the company now has a clear path for ongoing operational improvements while supporting future growth.
Fabrice Canonge, CEO of Centric Software, noted that the platform enables Zak! Designs to digitize and standardize complex workflows, helping the company respond more efficiently to retailer and licensor requirements without proportionally increasing staffing levels.
Centric Software provides AI-powered enterprise solutions that support product planning, design, sourcing, compliance, manufacturing, merchandising, pricing, and retail operations across industries including fashion, home, cosmetics, consumer goods, and retail.
