The IT Director needed solution architecture expertise with a specific retail fashion planning systems and vendor management capabilities to ensure the design and implementation of a newly acquired COTS system could be successfully introduced and integrated within their legacy landscape to meet new business planning processes .

FatFace, a UK-based fashion retailer, was facing limitations in their merchandise and assortment planning processes, which relied heavily on spreadsheets. These manual methods were inefficient, prone to error, and lacked scalability for the company’s growing operational needs.

To modernise their planning capabilities and improve overall efficiency, FatFace decided to implement the TXT Maple Lake Merchandise and Assortment Planning solution—newly acquired by TXT Retail—to replace legacy tools and integrate with their existing IT landscape.

As a Solution Architect, his responsibility was to lead the end-to-end design and implementation of the new merchandise planning solution. He needed to work closely with the business change team to define new integrated planning processes, identify functional requirements, and ensure that the technical architecture supported behavioural changes and business outcomes.

Additionally, he was to be accountable for the full systems delivery lifecycle, from design and development through testing and deployment. He was to ensure the solution was delivered on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards.

He collaborated with business stakeholders during a series of workshops to capture and validate the functional business requirements definitions (BRD), identify key capabilities, and ensure the solution would meet end-user expectations.

Based on this input, he designed the integrated solution architecture, which connected the TXT Maple Lake application with Fat Face’s legacy systems environment, replacing outdated spreadsheets with a robust and scalable planning tool.

He led both internal and external development teams, managed testing cycles, and defined the deployment strategy.

His focus was not only on technical integration but also on facilitating business adoption through alignment with new ways of working for merchandising, buying, supply chain, and administrative users.

The following key results were achieved for the client:

• The project was delivered successfully, meeting all timeline, budget, and quality commitments.
• The new merchandise and assortment planning solution significantly improved planning accuracy and efficiency, replacing spreadsheets with an integrated, user-friendly platform.
• The implementation anchored a new business process model, enabling Fat Face to plan localised assortments more effectively, optimise inventory management, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• The solution laid the groundwork for data-driven decision-making and supported the company’s strategic retail objectives.

• solutions architecture
• solution design
• Implementation Planning

• Accelerated Solution Delivery
• Process Effectiveness & Automation

• Retail and Consumer