Dick’s Sporting Goods is seeking to move all its software in-house as opposed to relying on third-party vendors, in an attempt to particularly help its online push, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The transition is being led by Chief Technology Officer Paul Gaffney. His team will initially develop a new inventory tracking software, then transition to in-house software for all its e-commerce platforms, including an overhaul of the website, how products are showcased online, the website’s search and checkout functions and shipping estimates. The team behind the inventory software development has a “self-imposed goal” to take in a minimum of 10 times its cost in yearly revenue, per the report.
The team behind the inventory software development has a “self-imposed goal” to take in a minimum of 10 times its cost in yearly revenue, per the report. The goal was set in October and the team has progressed about 50 percent toward achieving it. Gaffney told the paper that he says to his team, “Don’t get excited about shipping a feature – get excited about when the feature turns into revenue and turns into profit.”
The WSJ reports that Dick’s is one of several brick-and-mortar retailers exploring in-house software creation and bolstering their teams for technology.
