Communication bottlenecks between internal teams and suppliers, time-consuming specification updates, and fragmented data systems can stunt a company’s growth as it expands.
A leading Asian retailer, DFI Retail Group’s mission to sustainably serve Asia through everyday moments. Operating across 12 markets, the group’s portfolio spans health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings, and restaurants.
DFI Retail Group manages more than 2,000 Own Brand products, each with complex and varied packaging, regulatory, and quality requirements. As of May 2025, DFI operated over 7,700 outlets, employed 85,000 people, and generated over $24.9 billion in revenue.
The Challenge
With operations over such a wide swath and its private label business expanded, DFI identified key inefficiencies in its existing systems:
- Limited accessibility for internal teams and external suppliers, creating communication bottlenecks.
- Time-intensive manual checking of product specification updates.
- Disconnected supplier data and excessive manual data entry.
- Difficulty maintaining version control and audit trails for product specifications.
DFI needed a solution that would improve supplier collaboration, centralize product data, and streamline specification tracking.
Partnering with TradeBeyond
To obtain this, DFI sought assistance from TradeBeyond. A leading provider of end-to-end retail supply chain solutions, TradeBeyond empowers global brands, retailers, and sourcing organizations to streamline product development, improve compliance, and accelerate time-to-market.
With Its integrated PLM module, TradeBeyond’s Supplier Management tools by connecting design, sourcing, compliance, and execution.
DFI implemented TradeBeyond’s multi-enterprise platform to digitize and enhance its Own Brands program. The solution provided a centralized hub for product specifications and supplier data, covering everything from nutritional panels to regulatory certifications. It allowed for real-time access and collaboration across internal teams and external suppliers, regardless of location or time zone. Additionally, it integrated version control and trackable specification updates to maintain data integrity throughout the development cycle.
Frictionless Delivery
This digital transformation enabled DFI to eliminate manual processes, reduce errors, and better manage the complexity of its growing product portfolio.
For DFI Retail Group, it means not only a stronger Own Brands operation but a fully digital, seamless path from product ideation to final delivery.
“TradeBeyond allows stronger information exchange between multiple internal and external parties and provides version control for better product management,” said Fann Yuen, Group Own Brand Director, DFI Retail Group.
The result of the DFI- TradeBeyond’s collaboration are suppliers now working together in real time, all stakeholders having 24/7 access to accurate product data and real-time updates ensure alignment across teams reduced misunderstandings