Building Organizational Agility with a New Global Core Merchandising Solution

This billion-dollar company operates multiple store formats, including temporary pop-up locations, and carries over a million active items across hardline, fashion, consignment, convenience, and food. Stores are uniquely located across the globe, serving a wide range of customers. The company employs a two-decade-old core merchandising system, with several characteristics inherent in legacy environments:

• Multiple customizations result in replicated data over many database tables and a significant amount of aged data must be purged or archived
• Patchwork system architecture with pockets of homegrown and outdated technology​
• Mature team following entrenched legacy processes​

Further complexities include the requirement to use domestic-based vendors​, VMI, DSD, products requiring unique serial number capture and tracking, restricted customer entry​ to stores with POS prompts for identification, and special orders​.

Parker Avery performed a multi-week software selection process including the following activities:​

• Reviewed, validated, and augmented requirements through interviews and applying leading practices
• Researched and identified a vendor shortlist using cost ranges and functional and technical capabilities
• Drafted ‘day in the life’ demonstration scripts
• Facilitated vendor demonstrations and conducted post-demo summarization
• Issued RFP to selected vendors to understand cybersecurity, functional capabilities, delivery models, cost of ownership, and service levels
• Evaluated vendor responses and coordinated a second round of demonstrations targeting key functionality
• Built a cost and benefits/risk analysis with gaps and total cost estimate​s
• Provided support for client/vendor negotiations
• Outlined a data governance/migration strategy
• Delivered vendor selection recommendations to the client’s executive team​