For Glue Reply’s an architecture boutique consultancy, he undertook and assignment for one of their retail clients, Games Stores Group plc. They required an external Supply Chain Solution Architect consultant to undertake high level solution scoping for a portfolio of strategic roadmap change assignments.

He was engaged as an associate managing solution architecture for the IT Roadmap changes aimed at improving GAME’s retail and supply chain business activities.

His primary task was to provide solution architecture management for a range of IT initiatives designed to enhance GAME’s supply chain.

This included:

• designing and overseeing the integration of systems with new and existing carriers for outbound and returns
• warehouse logistics changes for implementing web service despatch labelling and shipment manifests
• adopting EDI with major publishers
• enabling online transport carrier changes
• developing a solution for direct import group purchasing
• developing further interfacing with TXT e-solutions supply chain planning. This involved interface designs to facilitate data flow and integration with external systems.
• establishing a solution for the reclamation and trade-in of pre-owned and faulty stock with end-to-end reverse management from EPOS to the back-end supply chain.

His key actions included:

• Solution Architecture Management: Provided comprehensive solution architecture management for all identified supply chain improvement initiatives within the 2011 IT Roadmap.

• Carrier Integration: Designed and managed the systems integration with new and existing carriers for both outbound and returns logistics processes.

• Despatch and Manifest Implementation: Oversaw the implementation of web service-based despatch labelling and shipment manifest generation.

• EDI Adoption: Facilitated the adoption of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) with major publishers to streamline data exchange.

• Online Transport Carrier Changes: Architected solutions to enable online management and changes related to transport carriers.

• Direct Import Solution: Developed the solution architecture for direct import group purchasing processes.

• TXT e-solutions Interfacing: Designed the interfaces required for integration with TXT e-solutions forecasting demand and supply planning.

• Reverse Logistics Solution: Developed the end-to-end solution architecture for the reclamation and trade-in of pre-owned and faulty stock, encompassing processes from EPOS to the back-end supply chain.

His contributions led to the following key results:

* Defined Solution Architectures: Clear and robust solution architectures were defined for all the planned supply chain improvements within the 2011 IT Roadmap.

* Improved Logistics Processes: The groundwork was laid for more efficient outbound and returns logistics through effective carrier integration and automated processes.

* Enhanced Data Exchange: The adoption of EDI with major publishers streamlined data exchange and reduced manual effort.

* Increased Flexibility in Transport Management: Solutions were put in place to enable more flexible online management of transport carriers.

* Enabled Direct Import Capabilities: The architecture for direct import group purchasing was established, potentially leading to cost savings.

• Enterprise and Business Architecture
• change strategy
• solutions architecture

• Purpose to Portfolio
• Accelerated Solution Delivery

• Retail and Consumer
• Media and Entertainment