Analyst Perspectives

I am happy to share some insights on JDA drawn from our latest Value Index research, which provides an analytic representation of our assessment of how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements. The Ventana Research Value Index: Workforce Management 2019 is the distillation of a year of market and product research efforts by Ventana Research. We utilized a structured research methodology that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect the breadth of the real-world criteria incorporated in a request for proposal (RFP) and vendor selection process for workforce management. We evaluated JDA and 12 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (adaptability, capability, manageability, reliability and usability) and two related to the vendor (TCO/ROI and vendor validation). To arrive at the Value Index rating for a given vendor, we weighted each category to reflect its relative importance in an RFP process, with the weightings based on our experience and data derived from our benchmark research on workforce management.

JDA placed eighth in this Value Index evaluation, but it was one of only three vendors that had no scores below 80 percent across all seven categories. JDA scored third in Validation due for its customer references and case studies and earned its highest score in TCO/ROI for the quality of the business case collateral it provided. Its placement at sixth in Capability contributed to its lower overall ranking.

JDA’s Dynamic Enhanced Forecasting is impressive in its ability to automatically assess historical data to determine the best algorithm to use for labor forecasting. Its scheduling optimization engine factors in availability, skill, rank, seniority, wage or cost, and full- or part-time assignment. The product provides a fully responsive mobile experience and JDA’s Luminate Store Optimizer provides dynamic tasking powered by machine learning, providing a comprehensive view of store operations. JDA’s incorporation of technology from its acquisition of the AI company Blue Yonder means that work schedules can now easily be optimized based on a variety of data points. And voice input and chatbot capabilities for activities such as requesting time off have also been included in recent product releases.

JDA scored below the mean in the Manageability, Reliability and Adaptability categories. Though its product capabilities are reasonably robust, there is room for improvement in administrative capabilities, user experience, ease of deployment and configurability. More depth of support in its scalability, SLA and integration would help address many of these issues.

This research-based index is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of workforce management software in the industry. You can learn more about our Value Index as an effective vendor selection and RFI/RFP tool here. Participating vendors can learn more about how to use the Value Index here.