Project Description
Retailer Selects New Core Support Systems to Streamline Corporate Operations
Client Challenge
The client is a regionally focused North American retailer, operating nearly 600 stores with three distinctive retail store formats, as well as a growing eCommerce channel. After working with Parker Avery to develop a legacy system modernization roadmap, the retailer was moving forward with evaluating solutions to replace aging AS400-based finance and human capital management (HCM) systems.
Due to the lean nature of the company’s support organization, they did not have the bandwidth to conduct a thorough analysis of viable finance and HCM vendors and systems. Further, two key considerations included systems available and proven in a cloud environment, as well as vendors who offered integrated core merchandising capabilities for a future implementation.
Parker Avery Solution
Parker Avery provided retail subject matter expertise and project management support to thoroughly review and evaluate five vendors identified on the client’s shortlist. Parker Avery worked closely with the client and leveraged the firm’s expert knowledge of leading retail and core merchandising systems.
Key evaluation criteria included functional fit to the client’s desired future state, alignment with the client’s technical architecture direction, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
Using the firm’s proven retail system selection approach, Parker Avery:
- Conducted requirements-gathering work sessions and validation meetings with the business to identify critical future-state capabilities
- Conducted key stakeholder interviews
- Developed a comprehensive request for information (RFI), distributed it to the short-listed vendors, and assessed vendor RFI responses
- Developed detailed demonstration scripts and facilitated three-day vendor finalist demos
- Assessed demo outcomes, using the client’s prioritization of requirements
- Facilitated vendor customer reference calls and TCO analysis
- Developed a high-level change management plan
- Outlined a phased implementation plan
Results
Based on the comprehensive evaluation scoring and TCO analysis, company executives granted approval to move forward with the first phase of the legacy modernization implementation, which had been in discussion for several years prior to this strategic selection project. Parker Avery assisted with the transition from system selection into deployment preparation, including finalizing the budget, securing internal resources, and developing the initial program plan.
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