Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Deloitte CIS and Predictix announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership to establish a joint Center of Excellence in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Together, the two companies will deliver the full suite of Predictix consumer-centric merchandising solutions - Planning + Allocation, Pricing + Promotions and Forecasting + Replenishment - to retailers and brands in the region.

The Deloitte-Predictix partnership combines the strengths of the Predictix Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product suite with the vast experience of Deloitte in the CIS region, as well as its proven retail experience and successful track record. The Center of Excellence will offer best-of-breed technology and expertise, along with the resources and personnel to quickly implement Predictix solutions.

The partnership will allow both companies to take advantage of opportunities in the rapidly growing CIS retail market, which is expected to be Europe’s largest retail market in 2009 and a strong growth area for retail technology. CIS retailers face increased competition from international retailers and must manage the effects of consolidation in their local market, as well as respond to the current economic crisis. CIS retailers are eagerly seeking new solutions to help them become more customer-centric and efficient, without incurring large risks or capital outlays - and the Predictix suite of products delivers just that.

The Predictix suite is delivered in a SaaS subscription model that gets brands and retailers up and running quickly and requires no up-front license payments, software installations, hardware purchases, or long-term commitments - in effect, decreasing all the traditional risks of software investments and implementations.

Deloitte and Predictix are currently working together to implement Predictix Planning at a leading consumer electronics and home appliance retailer in the Russian Federation. The implementation is now underway, with the first phase expected to go live this fall.

“The Predictix solutions are a good fit for the CIS market. Predictix has a competitive product offering, along with the dynamic, entrepreneurial spirit that is essential for success in the CIS,” said Alexander Gorsky, a partner and leader of the Retail group at Deloitte CIS. “This agreement furthers the strategic relationship between Deloitte and Predictix, and we look forward to accelerating the delivery of Predictix solutions in this fast-growing market.”

“Deloitte has a strong record of success in the CIS and has earned the respect and trust of the retail industry,” said Molham Aref, CEO, Predictix. “We are excited to partner with Deloitte and get off to such a strong start in this vitally important region.”