Harvey Norman selects Pronto Software for new venture

Harvey Norman has selected Pronto Software as its IT partner to launch a new business venture called Harvey Norman OFIS, a stationery and computer chain designed to take on Officeworks head-to-head in the competitive office supplies market. 
 
Harvey Norman will implement Pronto Software’s leading ERP solution, Pronto-Xi, to provide a complete end-to-end solution to meet all of Harvey Norman OFIS’ front and back office requirements, from online sales and purchase orders to fulfilment, distribution and financial management. Harvey Norman OFIS will be operated and managed as an independent operation.
 
“We chose Pronto Software to be our IT partner in this venture because it was a cost-effective, flexible, out-of-the-box solution that would also ensure speed to market. Pronto Software showed they could work within our time frames, and, like us, is a very customer-focused company,” says Harvey Norman OFIS general manager, Paul English.

“To be relevant in this market, you have to have an online presence. We want to ensure our online offering is equal to – if not better – than our competitors. The customer experience is paramount, which is another reason we selected Pronto-Xi as it provides a user-friendly web-based shopfront to easily shop online.”
 
Harvey Norman OFIS has initially purchased 60 user licences to support head office and the first two stores, utilising a range of Pronto-Xi modules including financials, distribution, warehouse management, point of sale, CRM, EDI, and iShop.
 
The Harvey Norman OFIS online store is scheduled to go live in the first half next year, while the first two ‘bricks and mortar’ stores – in Albury and Auburn, Sydney – will open in March. Harvey Norman plans to open eight to 10 stores by the end of the year.
 
English says the Pronto Software team has been great to work with. “There has been very little red tape and not a lot of management tiers to get through. Pronto Software is working with us at a grass roots level and these cultural synergies have been a benefit given the aggressive time frames.”