Leading footwear brand and the UK’s biggest shoe maker, Hotter has selected the enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, Microsoft Dynamics AX, to support its ambitious growth plans. Hotter has brought in the Microsoft recommended partner HSO, a leading provider of innovative enterprise business solutions, to implement and provide ongoing support. Following the award of the contract, HSO is now rolling out the ERP solution to drive efficiencies in the finance and supply chain processes for the footwear retailer.

With ambitious plans in place, Hotter was looking for an end-to-end omni-channel retail solution that was flexible and scalable enough to support dynamic international growth. Microsoft Dynamics AX fitted the bill perfectly. Following an in-depth evaluation and a period spent prototyping different solutions to specific IT challenges, Hotter decided on HSO as its chosen partner to implement the ERP solution.

Bernard Thorne, Interim IT Director, Hotter, said: “We were impressed by the quality of HSO’s proposed implementation team; their depth of expertise and ability to challenge and really get under the skin of our business processes to drive tangible operational benefits.”

Prior to this investment Hotter has been managing large elements of its supply chain process manually, which has hampered it from providing the level of customer service and stock management required to scale its operations.

Implementing Microsoft Dynamics and working with HSO will enable Hotter to manage by exception rather than having to manage every element of the standard procedure and enable the adoption of best practice as part of a fully automated approach.

Hotter expects the new solution to enable it to enhance stock availability over time. Moreover, the new system will also enable Hotter to handle back-ordering more efficiently with much greater stock visibility across the order cycle, which in turn will help it make commitments to customers, thereby improving customer service.

Sara Prowse, CEO, said: “Working with HSO and introducing the Microsoft Dynamics solution is central to our plans to underpin our growth and strengthen best practice across our business. We have been impressed with HSO’s collaborative approach to partnership, their expertise and understanding of both ERP technology and of our business, and their focus on achieving long-term improvements and short-term goals.”

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with a dynamic forward-looking brand like Hotter, and to help it to achieve its vision of successful growth,” says Hector Hickmott, Sales Director, HSO. “Hotter is a strong brand, and some really exciting plans. We look forward to building a sustained, long-term relationship which will deliver value long into the future.”