Jane Smith
Case Study: Enterprise Data Strategy & Technology Procurement at NEXT plc
Sector: Retail | Focus: Data Strategy, Technology Selection, Procurement Management
Background
NEXT plc is a leading British multinational retailer trading in over 70 countries. As part of its commitment to data-driven growth, NEXT aimed to enhance its customer insight programs—including both “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and “Know Your Household” (KYH) initiatives. However, the company faced a significant obstacle: key data was spread across a mix of legacy and modern systems, creating silos that limited visibility and posed risks to business-critical operations.
The organisation needed a solution that would enable unified, real-time data access without disrupting existing systems—one that could meet today’s strategic needs while remaining flexible for future growth.
Challenge
NEXT engaged Information Insights, led by Andrew, to:
Identify a solution that could unify data across disparate systems without business disruption.
Enable advanced data use to support both KYC and KYH programs.
Ensure the solution was future-flexible and resilient to repeating past data silo issues.
Evaluate and recommend technology vendors capable of delivering this solution.
Lead the procurement process from partner shortlisting to commercial and contract negotiation.
Approach
A structured technology selection and procurement process was undertaken, including:
Interviews and workshops with NEXT’s IT leadership and technical teams to map challenges and define success.
In-depth analysis of technical documentation, data workflows, and operational constraints.
A review of leading data virtualisation technologies, focusing on functionality, scalability, vendor fit, and commercial viability.
Given the sensitivity of the data and the high risk of system disruption, a traditional migration or integration approach was ruled out. Instead, Data Virtualisation was recommended—enabling real-time data access across systems without physically moving or restructuring data.
Solution & Vendor Selection
Four leading vendors were initially reviewed: TIBCO, Oracle, Denodo, and Informatica. The assessment considered:
Technical suitability for real-time data virtualisation.
Ability to scale across NEXT’s business and future needs.
Vendor credibility and long-term partner potential.
Following detailed evaluations and technical workshops, Oracle and Denodo were shortlisted. Andrew led all commercial negotiations and contract reviews, ultimately securing the preferred vendor and implementation partner.
Outcome
NEXT adopted a Data Virtualisation strategy, approved by both the CIO and Board.
A best-fit vendor was successfully procured, with all contractual and commercial terms optimised.
The solution created a scalable, future-proof data layer, enabling KYC and KYH programs to progress safely and efficiently.
Andrew remained a trusted advisor through to implementation, ensuring continuity, accountability, and successful delivery.
Impact
This project enabled NEXT to overcome a complex data challenge through a well-governed procurement and technology selection process. The organisation secured a fit-for-purpose solution through a structured partner evaluation and negotiation framework—ensuring commercial value, technical suitability, and long-term flexibility. As a result, NEXT was able to move forward with its customer insight initiatives with increased confidence, reduced operational risk, and a solid foundation for future innovation.