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The Commercial Systems Transitional Senior Programme Manager and Head of Architecture & Design Director for Dixons Carphone plc needed Enterprise solutions architecture from an experienced advanced retail planning systems practitioner.
Following the merger of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse (now Currys plc), the newly formed FTSE100 retailer faced major challenges integrating disparate systems and processes across merchandising, forecasting, and supply chain operations. Legacy systems from both sides created complexity and inefficiencies, preventing a unified, agile, and data-driven commercial planning environment.
As Programme Solution Architect, he was tasked with designing and governing the end-to-end solution architecture for a £45M Commercial Systems Programme (CSP).
The programme implemented a best-in-breed suite of integrated COTS solutions — to drive synchronized, simplified, and right-first-time merchandising processes.
Software Solutions suite:
He led the architectural design and governance of the multi-phase rollout.
In Phase 1, he oversaw the integration of JDA’s Merchandise Financial Planning (MP) module with legacy ERP systems, enabling top-down and bottom-up planning of sales, inventory, and stock intake.
In Phase 2, he orchestrated the integration of JDA Assortment Planning and Optimisation (AP/AO) with Oracle AIP and EYC Macro Space Planning. He created a comprehensive solution blueprint, managed the commercial on the shelf software (COTS) solution vendors (JDA, Oracle, IBM, Accenture), and governed the delivery of all design artefacts, including RICEFW objects (Reports, Interfaces, Conversions, Enhancements, Forms, and Workflows), test plans, and data migration strategies.
He also designed and governed the build & test for operation of the Planning Data Store (PDS)—a custom Oracle-based integration layer that harmonised data across legacy and new platforms. He ensured robust data governance, developed batch orchestration for daily and weekly planning cycles, and facilitated agile and waterfall delivery across business and IT teams using JIRA and CRP methodology.
Detailed Architectural Actions
As Programme Solution Architect, he was accountable for the architecture, design governance, and technical delivery across all phases of the Commercial Systems Programme (CSP). His responsibilities encompassed a wide range of solution architectural components that had to be scoped, designed, built, tested, and delivered across the programme’s three-year lifecycle.
Key components included:
Throughout the programme, he provided end-to-end design authority, chaired solution review boards, and ensured vendor deliverables aligned with the solution blueprint and business transformation objectives.
The CSP programme successfully delivered an integrated commercial planning platform, synchronising financial, assortment, space, and inventory planning processes across the organisation.