IT overhaul makes a material difference to retailer

Fabric Warehouse plans rapid systems refresh

Fabric Warehouse will use Microsoft finance software

Specialist retailer Fabric Warehouse is overhauling its IT infrastructure including new systems, software and support, following the acquisition of its sister company Rosebys.

The sale of Rosebys included the majority of its IT systems and Fabric Warehouse was forced to lease its systems from the company at a cost.

The firm is now to install Microsoft Dynamics, which includes financial, human resources, payroll, point of sale and merchandising systems in just five months ahead of the new financial year.

‘It is an ambitious timescale but we do not want the IT lease agreement to roll into another year,’ said project manager Lionel Wilson. ‘There is some risk, but we have buy-in from everyone and want to stand on our own feet.’

K3 was chosen to install the complete and integrated system by July, which will run the Fabric Warehouse’s entire business.

‘It provides us with a single system that controls everything, delivers best practice in one fell swoop and provides us with one version of the truth throughout our entire supply chain,’ Wilson said.

The new systems provide central reporting to allow the company to optimise merchandising, planning, allocation and replenishment.