Electronic integration in the apparel industry: the Charles Vögele case

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze a case where electronic date interchange implementation has been successful and to distill the main reasons for this success and understand how the actors involved dealt with the main inhibiting factors suggested by the information systems management literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of the paper being explorative and partially confirmatory, an “information rich” case was selected to generate new knowledge and review the extant literature on EDI adoption's antecedents and consequences.

Findings

Whereas some suggestions from the literature were confirmed, others are to be reviewed. The main findings are the following: managerial commitment, technological readiness (both of the systems themselves as of employees) and unclear return on investment are the main inhibitors of EDI adoption. One inhibiting factor that, to the authors' knowledge, has not received enough attention in the literature is the fear of data disclosure. The main benefits are not a mere reduction in administrative costs by improved supply coordination and exceptions management. Finally, the personal relationship between participants is the most important for the success of an implementation.

Practical implications

This case can be of value for vertically (relationally) integrated companies that aim to improve supply chain coordination through electronic integration in the apparel, but also in other, industries.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge there has not been any study yet analyzing EDI implementation in vertically integrated companies in the apparel industry so far. Also the authors feel that an in‐depth single case study considerably adds to the knowledge of the phenomenon in question because of the possibility of envisaging the relevance of contextual factors.

Citation

Mossinkoff, M.R.H. and Stockert, A.M. (2008), "Electronic integration in the apparel industry: the Charles Vögele case", Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 90-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/13612020810857961