CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
SEARS PRODUCT INFORMATION NETWORK (SPIN)
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE
__________________________________
SPIN (Online Business Unit)
Created by
BONNIE ALICEA PhD, abd
CHANGE MANAGEMENT ANALYST
For internal use only. Nothing contained herein shall be disclosed outside Sears Holding Corporations without proper authorization.
1
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
AREA OF STATE CHANGE OVERVIEW
Area
Process Flows
System of Record
Build and Enrichment
Metadata
Data Governance
Quality Management
Time
Current State
7 Different process flows with built timeframes
ranging up to 6 weeks
Future State
2 different flows to create items (external and
internal providers)
No system of record results in redundant updates
and increased errors
Single Third party vendor owns build and
enrichment
Internally built content metadata requires
enrichment by external vendor
Lacks true data governance
Lacks quality management
• Limited quality management processes
• Content quality varies across categories
• Multiple integration points lead to high
reject rates
SPIN will be the one system of record.
•
•
Systems and process complexity
2-6 week average build cycle
Reduce dependency of 3rd Party service
Reduce dependency of 3rd Party service
Establish and controls data governance
• Formal quality management processes
• Content quality improves with system of
record and 3P software
• Reduced integration points
•
•
Systems and process simplified
1 day – 2 week average build cycle
2
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
TAKE WITH FLOW
1
1A
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Initiation
Task
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
Unchanged
FLS buyer (FLS org)
N
The Merchandise Support Team
builds TW items directly into IMA
that we are responsible for (i.e.,
Tool catalog items that are
stocked).
Task happens in Complete Item
Build phase (task 2E)
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
Unchanged?
FLS buyer (FLS org)
N
ARS
Gather and load digital assets into
IMA from manufacturer vendor
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Y
Items are imported into SPIN from
IMA.
IMA WebTab data is primary
source content.
Where there is no IMA Web Tab
data, IMA base data is taken.
Confirm item to be sold online; if
yes start build process with Task
2C; if no flag item for 'excluded'
IMA, SPIN
Y
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Y
Information provided by the
vendor on the IMA Web Tab will
be utilized, so this task may be
reduced.
FLS buyer (FLS org),
Vendor
Y
Select, buy
merchandise
from supplier
1B
Create item data
in legacy systems
(IMA, CORE, RIM,
etc.)
1C
Obtain and
attach digital
assets
2
Current State
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
Content
Creation
2A
Import items
from IMA into
content system
Items are imported into
WEBCON from IMA
IMA, TCN
2B
Confirm items to
sell online
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
2C
Specify Item
Details: Enter
product title
FLS buyer (FLS org) works
through list of newly imported
items from IMA and selects
those that will be sold online.
Kmart buyers do this fully in
webcon, Sears buyers download
some info from webcon and
complete the process using
spreadsheets sent to ARS.
in Webcon
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
3
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
2D
Task
Current State
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
Specify Item
Details: Enter
product
description
in Webcon
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
FLS buyer (FLS org),
Vendor, Schawk
Y
Specify Item
Details: Select
web hierarchy
in Webcon
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Y
Specify Item
Details: Attach
attributes
individually
in Webcon
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
FLS buyer (FLS org),
SPIN
Y
Specify Item
Details: Fill in
attributes Values
for each item
Image - Option 1
(Vendor image):
Obtain digital
assets from
vendor, mfg etc.
Image - Option 1
(Vendor image):
Submit image
in Webcon
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
Information provided by the
vendor on the IMA Web Tab will
be utilized, so this task may be
reduced. Items sent to Schawk for
image will have copy provided by
Schawk
user will select Item Class - web
hierarchy(cross-categorization)
will be derived from the selected
item class
No longer applies. All the user has
to do in SPIN is specify the item
class, and the system will
automatically attach the
appropriate set of attributes.
Unchanged
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Y
ARS
This should done at the beginning
of the process by the FLS buyer
(FLS org) but can be done here on
an exception basis.
N/A
Y
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
Image is loaded directly in SPIN
FLS buyer (FLS org)
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
Unchanged
FLS buyer (FLS org)
FLS buyer (FLS
org)
No longer applies. Photo
instructions will be defaulted
according to item class. However,
the user will have the option to
overwrite the default.
FLS buyer (FLS org),
SPIN
Image - Option 2
(3P Photo shoot):
Attain
sample/handover
to photo vendor
Image - Option 2
(3P Photo shoot):
Specify photo
instructions
Image is copied to ARS ftp site
Kmart in WebCon UI; Sears
uploaded via spreadsheet into
WebCon
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
4
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
2E
2F
Task
Current State
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
Additional Build
Options: Define
bases/variations
in Webcon
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
SPIN will recommend groupings
but confirmation will need to be
done by a user.
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections identify/select
collection items,
provide
collection title
in webcon, TCN or through ARS
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections input collection
image
instructions (if
needed)
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections - flag
collection for
bundle pricing
in webcon or added to the
upload/download image request
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
via ARS??
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
FLS buyer (FLS org)
Additional Build
Options: Specify
coordinating
items
Additional Build
Options: Specify
Accessories
in WebCon or TCN
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
Online Merchant (OBU
org)
in WebCon or TCN
Online Merchant
(OBU org)
Online Merchant (OBU
org)
Approve/Submit
for build
Kmart users flag for send in
WebCon UI; Sears submits
spreadsheet to ARS
FLS buyer (FLS
org), Online
Merchant (OBU
org)
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
Y
FLS buyer (FLS org)
(is there a default for collections
too?)
Users will be able to publish
and/or assign items to 3P. If
assigned to 3P, a task appears on
3P content specialist's dashboard.
Item never leaves the system; 3P
content specialists performs work
in the system
FLS buyer (FLS org)
FLS buyer (FLS org),
Online Merchant (OBU
org) via SPIN
Y
5
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
2G
2H
Task
Current State
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
ARS
Image provider/photo agency will
be responsible for creating
finished images.
Image provider
Y
ARS
No longer applies.
N/A
Y
Schawk, RRD
Unchanged
Schawk, RRD
Schawk, RRD
Photo agency will be responsible
for creating finished images and
systemically sent/loaded to the
SHC system.
N/A
Y
ARS
SPIN will send images to S7 as they
are loaded into the system. No
human intervention is required.
Manifest will be replaced with
response from API call. No human
intervention is required.
SPIN will rename loaded images
according to naming conventions,
and will update the item with the
appropriate image URL. No human
intervention is necessary.
SPIN will rename loaded PDFs
according to naming conventions,
and will update the item with the
appropriate PDF URL. No human
intervention is necessary.
SPIN
Y
SPIN
Y
SPIN
Y
SPIN
Y
Optional 3P
tasks:
Create/colorize
swatches
Optional 3P
tasks: Create
color chips
Optional 3P
tasks: Alter
images (crop,
change
background
color, etc.)
Optional 3P
tasks: Proof
content with
manufacturer
Shoot images
(when
requested) - 3P
Send images
(when
requested) from
3P photo shoot
to ARS
Upload images to
S7
ARS
Receive manifest
file
ARS
Update item with
image URL
ARS
Upload PDFs to
AKAMAI.
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
ARS
pdf is sent via email to ARS or
Content Specialist; pdf is loaded
directly into Akamai and url of
pdf is added to the item along
with type of PDF (owner's
manual, warranties etc.)
ARS
6
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
3
3A
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Publish
3B
4
Task
Current State
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
Load items to
content system
(items, bases and
collections)
Send items to
WCS
ARS sends exports to TCN daily.
ARS, TCN
No longer applies. Items are
created in the system as soon as
they are imported from IMA
IMA, SPIN
Y
TCN, WCS
Processing time will be reduced
dramatically by utilizing Seller
Portal-WCS Web service approach.
SPIN, WCS
Y
Add/remove skus
as part of a base
ARS
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists or the vendors
themselves will be able to perform
this task
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org)
update image
ARS, Content
Team
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists or the vendors
themselves will be able to perform
this task
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org)
Maintain
7
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Task
Current State
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
re-categorize
ARS, Content
Team
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists will be able to
change the Item Class that the
item is associated to. Web
hierarchy associations to Item
Classes will be managed by the
Taxonomists.
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org).
Web hierarchy changes
for an item class will be
done by the
taxonomists.
update copy
(title,
descriptions etc.)
ARS, Content
Team
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists or the vendors
themselves will be able to perform
this task
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org)
Item inactivation
ARS, Content
Team
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists or the vendors
themselves will be able to perform
this task
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org)
Add/remove
catalog
associations
ARS, Content
Team
Instead of relying on ARS, internal
content specialists will be able to
perform this task
Internal Content
Specialist, Vendor, FLS
buyer (FLS org), Online
Merchant (OBU org)
Marketing,
Ads/promos
ARS, Content
Team
Not handled by the current
content management system; not
in scope for SPIN
FLS buyer (FLS org),
Online Merchant (OBU
org)
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
8
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Task
Performed by
Future State
Performed By
Dimension
updates
Add brand
Update Brand
display name
IMA
Unchanged
IMA
Create dummy
brand logo
ARS
update brand
logo
modify
pid/websku
associate
services to items
ARS
Can Carry codes will still need to
be changed. A report needs to be
send to Merchandise Support
from SPIN
Spin, Merchandise
Support
Can Carry Change
- Kmart Only
Current State
Effort
req/task
Process
Change?
ARS
ARS
Currently TW items that are
chosen to be carried by the
online buyer are transmitted via
a Webcon report to team to add
store 7840 to the can carry. This
allows the KIN to get pricing
Merchandise
Support
9
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
VENDOR DIRECT FLOW
1
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Initiation
Task
Current State
Performed
by
On-board vendor
Set up vendor in legacy vendor master
systems
Vendor
Onboarding
Team
Send spreadsheet of new vendor data
to Content Team
Load spreadsheet into TCN
Train vendor on content management
system
2
2A
Vendor
Onboarding
Team
Content
Team
Content
Team
Future State
Performed By
Unchanged
Vendor
Onboarding
Team
Insert link to SPIN in Good News
Letter that goes out to new
vendors.
Vendor
Onboarding
Team
No longer applies.
Vendor logs in to SPIN initially
with Pay and Order DUNS
numbers. SPIN authenticates
credentials using data from IMA,
then allows the vendor to set up
profile with appropriate user ID
and password.
No longer applies. System will
provide hints to guide the user
through every task.
N/A
Vendor
N/A
Content
Creation
Option 1: Vendor bulk-loads items into SHC Content application
No longer applies.
Send product class
information to vendor
Content
Team
10
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Task
Send item bulk load
template to vendor
Fill in standard item
fields on spreadsheet
Add class-specific
attributes on
spreadsheet
Fill in class-specific
attributes on
spreadsheet
Additional Build
Options: Define
bases/variations
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections identify/select
collection items,
provide collection
title
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections - input
collection image
instructions (if
needed)
Current State
Performed
by
Performed By
Content
Team
Future State
Vendor downloads item bulk load
templates from SPIN. Templates
are item class specific, so the
vendor simply fills in each
attribute with the appropriate
value.
Vendor
Unchanged
Vendor
Vendor
No longer applies.
N/A
Vendor
Unchanged
Unchanged
Vendor
Vendor
Not available via TCN
Vendor
n/a
Available in SPIN
Vendor
y
Not available via TCN
n/a
Available in SPIN
Y
11
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
2B
Current State
Not available via TCN
Performed
by
n/a
Future State
Available in SPIN
Not available via TCN
n/a
Available in SPIN
Not available via TCN
n/a
Available in SPIN
Vendor
Unchanged
Vendor
TCN
Unchanged
SPIN
Load items into IMA;
result status returned
to TCN
Update status of
successful IMA
loaded items; send
report of rejected?
Option 2: Vendor works with ARS
Automated
batch
process?
Unchanged
N/A
Send product class
information to vendor
OBU
merchant?
No longer applies.
N/A
ARS
Vendor downloads item bulk load
templates from SPIN. Templates
are item class specific, so the
vendor simply fills in each
attribute with the appropriate
value.
Vendor
Task
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections - flag
collection for bundle
pricing
Additional Build
Options: Specify
coordinating items
Additional Build
Options: Specify
Accessories
Upload spreadsheet
into TCN
Send items to IMA
(via batch process)
Send item AI load
template to vendor
Automated
batch
process?
Performed By
N/A
12
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Task
Fill in auto-intake
sheet
Additional Build
Options: Define
collections identify/select
collection items,
provide collection
title
Send auto-intake
sheet to ARS
Load auto-intake
sheet in system
Additional Build
Options: Create
collections
Additional Build
Options: Create
collections - flag
collection for bundle
pricing
Additional Build
Options: Specify
coordinating items
Additional Build
Options: Specify
Accessories
Prepare IMA DSD
sheet
Send DSD sheet to
SHC (IMA)
Load DSD sheet in
IMA
Current State
Performed
by
Future State
Performed By
No longer applies.
Available in SPIN
N/A
Vendor
No longer applies.
N/A
ARS
No longer applies.
Available in SPIN
N/A
Vendor
y
OBU
merchant?
ARS
ARS (at
instruction of
OBU
merchant?)
y
Vendor
Available in SPIN
Vendor
Available in SPIN
?
Vendor
Available in SPIN
?
Vendor
ARS
No longer applies.
N/A
ARS
No longer applies.
N/A
Merchant
Support
Analyst
No longer applies.
N/A
13
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Performed
Task
Current State
by
Option 3: Vendor creates items 1x1 (via UI) into SHC Content application
Fill in standard and
class-specific
Fill in standard and class-specific
attributes via UI
attributes via UI
Vendor
Additional Build
Not available via TCN
n/a
Options: Define
collections identify/select
collection items,
provide collection
title
Additional Build
Not available via TCN
n/a
Options: Define
collections - input
collection image
instructions (if
needed)
Additional Build
Not available via TCN
n/a
Options: Define
collections - flag
collection for bundle
pricing
Additional Build
Not available via TCN
n/a
Options: Specify
coordinating items
Additional Build
Not available via TCN
n/a
Options: Specify
Accessories
Send items to IMA
Send items to IMA
TCN
Load items into IMA;
result status returned
to TCN
Load items into IMA; result status
returned to TCN
Automated
batch
process?
Future State
Performed By
Unchanged
Available in SPIN
SPIN
y
Available in SPIN
y
Available in SPIN
Available in SPIN
Available in SPIN
Unchanged
SPIN
Unchanged
N/A
14
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Task
Current State
Update status of
successful IMA
loaded items; send
Update status of successful IMA loaded
report of rejected?
items; send report of rejected?
Add'l tasks Applicable to all build options
N/A
Merchandise
Support
Merchandise
Support
Unchanged
Merchandise
Support
ARS, TCN
No longer applies. Items are
created in the system as soon as
they are imported from IMA
IMA, SPIN
TCN, WCS
Processing time will be reduced
dramatically by utilizing Seller
Portal-WCS Web service
approach.
SPIN, WCS
Merchandise
Support
Change RIM Record
Creation to new
vendor - Vendor
Pack added
Make sure that RIM is pointing to the
new vendor for the newly created IMA
vendor Pack
Merchandise
Support
Work items that have
IMA errors
Performed By
RIM Record create new Sears
VD items that are uploaded via
the SPIN user id
Make sure that RIM is pointing to
the new vendor for the newly
created IMA vendor Pack. In
order to do this, we will need a
SPIN report of data added.
Sell, attribute, RSOS code, etc.
data update where vendor pack
data was added. (IMA does not
accept this data, keeps data it
already has on the item). In
order to do this, we will need a
SPIN report of data added.
RIM Record create new Sears VD items
that are uploaded via the TCNIMA id
Sell, attribute, RSOS code, etc. data
update where vendor pack data was
added. (IMA does not accept this data,
keeps data it already has on the item).
Items that are missing data or have
incorrect data that get stuck in the IMA
workflow process
Future State
Automated
batch
process?
RIM Record Creation
- Sears VD - new
Information updates
to Vendor Pack data,
that was not
accepted
3
Performed
by
Merchandise
Support
SPIN,
Merchandise
Support
SPIN,
Merchandise
Support
Publish
Load items to
content system
(Option 2 only)
Send items to WCS
ARS sends exports to TCN daily.
15
CURRENT STATE/ FUTURE STATE (SPIN)
4
Item
Lifecycle
Phase
Maintain
Task
Current State
Performed
by
Add/remove skus
ARS
update image
ARS, Content
Team
re-categorize
ARS, Content
Team
update copy (title,
descriptions etc.)
ARS, Content
Team
Item inactivation
ARS, Content
Team
Add/remove catalog
associations
ARS, Content
Team
Marketing,
Ads/promos
Dimension updates
ARS, Content
Team
IMA
Future State
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists or the
vendors themselves will be able
to perform this task
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists or the
vendors themselves will be able
to perform this task
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists will be
able to perform this task
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists or the
vendors themselves will be able
to perform this task
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists or the
vendors themselves will be able
to perform this task
Instead of relying on ARS,
internal content specialists will be
able to perform this task
Not handled by the current
content management system; not
in scope for SPIN
Unchanged
Performed By
Internal Content
Specialist,
Vendor
Internal Content
Specialist,
Vendor
Internal Content
Specialist
Internal Content
Specialist,
Vendor
Internal Content
Specialist,
Vendor
Internal Content
Specialist
Internal Content
Specialist
IMA
16