Cloud-driven Transformation - Retail E-Commerce & ERP, Data Centre Strategy & Architecture, and Operate Models & Processes

Problem Statement – one of the major UK Retail client organisations was under a significant cost-pressure due to the online / eCommerce growth & competition and causing major disruption. Online / eCommerce channel competitors had a significantly lower operating costs so that it was increasing becoming difficult for the company to stay profitable.

This organisation had contracted-out the Transformation of its legacy aging Retail Systems in order to Transform into a latest Digital Retail / eCommerce online proposition so to compete head-on with its rival competitors.

Unfortunately, the Transformation Programme had run into serious difficulties and was running significantly behind schedule. In fact, only 10% of the programme had been completed over Eighteen (18) months and it was planned & contracted to be completed in Twenty-four (24) months. Failing to meet the contractual Milestones (within the two-years) was subject to steep Financial penalties. Our conclusion was that this programme required a comprehensive Recovery & Turnaround to meet the original objectives and the programme timeline needed to be negotiated in a calm-manner.

This UK Retail client organisations engaged us to develop & implement its ‘Retail E-Commerce-& ERP Transformation Strategy, and Planning & Execution. We conducted a full review of client’s business requirements, organisations, people skills & capabilities, operating models & processes, applications, systems, infrastructure, networks, security, and data centre.

We identified opportunities for improvement, designed a programme of work to underpin the rollout & delivery, organisational structure, people skills & capabilities. We carefully conducted a comprehensive “Strategy Review & Audit” and made recommendations for improvements. Our Specific responsibilities & activities, included (this is just a short summary):

  • Definition & execution of ‘Retail E-Commerce-& ERP Transformation ‘Vision Strategy & Roadmap’, aligning technology with the client business needs.
  • Effectively performed a 360-degree strategic reviews, presenting recommendations at up to CxO level, and setup the agreed programme for successes e.g. People, Processes, Systems/Tools.
  • Developed Digital ICT Strategies e.g. Retail E-Commerce, Cloud & Data Centre Transformation, Cyber Security Strategies.
  • Coordinated/managed a large-scale RFP/BID/RFI for a global ERP Vendor selection to replace the legacy Systems.
  • Coordinated/managed Tier-1 Vendor/SI commercials/Pricing contractual with Vodafone, IBM, Accenture, Oracle & TCS
  • Managed Vendor Contractual delivery assurance to agreed Governance, Price & Milestones and managed scope-creeps
  • Led the development of Multi-cloud (Azure, AWS, Oracle) Infrastructure Strategy & Architecture and Roadmap
  • Established Strategic PMO functions to manage multiple Programme/Project work-streams (15+), processes & Governance
  • Definition of clear ‘to-be’ target operating models, delivery strategies/plans, and redesign of support organisations,
  • Leadership of large resourcing pools of 200+ staff with global remit, including internal & external staffing & partners.
  • Leadership of a programme team of 120+ staff, headed up via a management team of 12 direct reports
  • Managed Global Tier-1 suppliers/partners including Vodafone, IBM, Accenture, Oracle & TCS, Microsoft, AWS, CISCO, etc.
  • Tracked multi-vendor delivery progress and reported at C-Level Exec Board and Executive Stakeholders.

Successfully delivered a complex multifaceted Transformation Programme encompassing: ERP applications Digital E-Commerce, Oracle ERP, HR Fusion, EBS, Finance, SAP Supply-chain, Cloud Transformation Delivered Cloud-based Data Centres C&W/Vodafone/Azure and AWS cloud-based infrastructure. Transformed a wide-ranging Operational, Business & IT Improvements including People, Process, TOMs, Systems, and Services

Successfully delivered £150m Transformation Programme, improved Customer satisfaction scored from low 56% to 84% and delivered contractual cost savings £30m.