'Retailer/supplier partnership of the year' 2004

'Retailer/supplier partnership of the year' 2004

Retail technology specialists, Retail Assist and Grantfort Computer Systems (GCS), providers of the Merret Supply Chain Solution, announce that their partnership with Rubicon Retail has been selected by the European Retail Solutions Awards panel as the winning Retailer/Supplier Partnership of the Year.

The judging panel expressed itself as impressed with the way that the partnership worked to implement the outsourcing of the Rubicon supply chain and IT development and support. This had to be undertaken during the critical selling season and to a tight timeline.

 The purpose of this award category is to recognise the strongest business relationship between a retailer and its supplier(s), where a dynamic partnership brought about accountability and flexibility. "This partnership is delivering clear business benefits," was the panel's reaction to the Retail Assist/Grantfort Computer Systems/Rubicon submission.

 Retail Assist and Grantfort Computer Systems have worked together for 5 years to deliver IT solutions and support, working with clients such as Adams Childrenswear and Burberry. This close association between the two companies gave Rubicon Retail the confidence to move forward with them, based upon the knowledge that both companies had a wealth of Retail IT experience and the ability to deliver a complete IT solution.

 The partnership's award application was built upon work carried out over the past 12 months to effect the transition of Rubicon Retail's systems from its former owner, Arcadia, to new outsourced suppliers for Accounting services, Payroll and HR Administration, Logistics, Telecoms, IT Services and Supply Chain solutions, and to give it control of its systems and services. Rubicon Retail owns the Warehouse and Principles fashion brands which have a national and international presence.

 Says Nigel Illingworth, Managing Director of Merret, "Rubicon required a solution that would offer simplicity, cost-effectiveness and functionality aligned to the needs of its business, which would give it the scope to gain a true commercial advantage to meet the demands of the dynamic world of fashion retailing. We are delighted to have created the platform to deliver this through our partnership."

 The systems and solutions transition that Rubicon Retail undertook with Retail Assist and Grantfort Computer Systems was achieved within an aggressive 6-month timescale, including commencing implementation over the Christmas period. It involved a transition team of some 100 people and brought about rapid business change affecting 4,000 Rubicon employees.

 New system solutions were developed/implemented for Merchandising, Warehousing, Payroll, HR and Finance, in addition to a new Store Concession solution. Wide-reaching infrastructure changes were also effected, including a new Distribution Centre, Financial Accounting Centre, Systems Data Centre and Broadband Retail Network.

 Adds Chris Inman, Finance Director at Rubicon Retail, "Our window for transition over a tight 6-month period was set for Rubicon and, as such, the determination and can do attitude of both Grantfort Computer Systems and Retail Assist have enabled Rubicon to move to a position of total independence within its deadlines. Arguably, this is something that other retailers would not have entertained under normal circumstances."

 Concludes Retail Assist's Managing Director, Alan Morris, "We believe that by completing a transition of this scale and magnitude, within the timescales set, we demonstrated to the judging panel an example of the strength and depth of partnership necessary to win this prestigious award. We are proud that the work of our partnership has been judged on a European scale and singled out for recognition."

 

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