Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software firm Lawson has bought the product lifecycle management (PLM) division of Freeborders, a specialist in retail and apparel software. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Freeborders PLM system is currently used by 79 fashion industry customers in the US, Europe and Asia, some of whom are also existing Lawson customers.

According to analysts, higher than anticipated manufacturing and distribution costs are the single most likely reason why new retail product launches fail - a problem that PLM software is designed to address by keeping closer control of the processes involved.