Primark is expanding its collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The internationally operating consulting arm of Indian conglomerate Tata Group will support the textile discounter in modernising its information technology over the next five years. The measure is aimed at securing the company’s ambitious international growth plans from the IT side.
The Irish fast-fashion retailer has been working with TCS since 2016. Since then, the consultancy has helped stabilising Primark’s core application platforms and integrate new business-critical programmes. The service provider has also improved cybersecurity capabilities and strengthened the reliability of processes and systems.
In the coming years, Primark intends to further renovate its system landscape and make it more resilient, reliable and efficient. TCS will support this process and help to accelerate implementations in line with the retailer’s expansion strategy.
DevOps culture accelerates implementation
Primark is striving for an agile, product-orientated operating model. This is to be achieved through intelligent automation and deploying DevOps processes. This methodology combines development (Dev) and operations (Ops) with the aim of coordinating collaboration between previously isolated roles such as development, IT operations and quality management. DevOps culture involves the various areas of responsibility throughout the entire life cycle of an application at every stage.
Better collaboration between teams and usage of automation tools can greatly reduce the time required to launch an application. The DevOps culture also requires prioritising the customer experience. This will help to increase competitiveness. Systems stability should also be boosted by means of continuous improvement practices.
Comprehensive real-time view
Primark’s new operating model is focussed on the company’s business functions. This requires a holistic view of technologies, business applications and processes in real-time. This can improve overall performance and create an agile eco-system that supports the retailer’s ambitious growth plans.
