Retail giant N Brown Group, whose brands include JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo, has opted to implement IBM's Cloud to host its suite of apps.
The catalogue firm wanted to transform the way it sold its products to its four million customers needed a reliable cloud platform it could use to host Oracle's apps suite, which would allow it to bring together its financial and retail processes.
"Cloud services in the overall marketplace are still maturing, so we needed a partner who recognised this and would help us keep pace with the ever-changing retail market and our ambitions," Paul Briggs, programme manager at N Brown Group, said.
"IBM offered a successful mix the necessary range of cloud services, industry leading applications, a true partnership focus, and an open door policy from global execs to the frontline team to deliver a compelling commercial offer. IBM is more than a technology supplier; it has become a trusted advisor."
Now, customers are able to browse through any of N Brown Group's brand catalogues, add products to their baskets and choose from a wider selection of credit options to pay for their goods.
Since the web platform launched in 2016, N Brown Group said new customers now account for 77% of the platform's visitors, slightly above its target of 75%, while online revenue has grown 10% year-on-year.
"Building e-commerce sites that perform well, are reliable and can scale rapidly during seasonal peak periods is absolutely critical for retailers. By using IBM Cloud, N Brown Group can process thousands of orders per day and scale its infrastructure based on demand," said Laurence Haziot, IBM global managing director and general manager for IBM Consumer Industries.
"This is a crucial foundation for any successful retailer's digital transformation, so now N Brown Group can focus on offering a better consumer experience across multiple channels."
