Games Workshop has chucked another £500k at entrenched ERP project with no end to epic battle in sight
- Reference: 1642074428
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/01/13/games_workshop_launches_05m_at/
- Source link:
[1]
Players battle over the Blood Bowl tabletop game (a Games Workshop product set in an alternate version of the Warhammer fantasy setting – but with gameplay based on a mashup of rugby/American football)
The Nottingham-based company behind the Warhammer figures has been locking horns with its gigantean adversary since at least 2017, [2]according to reports at the time [PDF].
But in its [3]latest half-year results [PDF] for the six months to 28 November 2021, the retailer and manufacturer admitted it spent another £500,000 on the project, with no end in sight.
"We have made some good progress on implementing our European ERP system and we are working hard to help achieve the completion of this long and complex project with £0.5m incurred in the period," the report said.
According to the company's [4]annual report for 2018-19 [PDF], a move to a "more agile methodology" was intended to ensure the project would go live in 2020.
[5]
Not only must the IT team take on the monstrous ERP project, but it must also do so with a sword hanging over its head.
[6]
[7]
The latest results said: "With a number of significant business projects in play, all of which are dependent on IT support, there is a requirement for a robust IT strategy which enables us to deliver key strategic projects as well as supporting day to day activities. We are keeping the structure of our global IT team under review to ensure the IT support needs of the business can be delivered."
The board has signed off on the first phase of the web store upgrade, which had been [8]delayed as of September last year as the ERP project missed its milestones. It expects capital investment of £6m in the upgrade.
[9]
In its [10]2020/2021 annual report [PDF], Games Workshop admitted its website is "looking a little dated and the back-end systems at times cannot cope with current volumes."
[11]Another day, another ERP project behind schedule: This time it's Norfolk County Council and an Oracle system
[12]When ERP migrations go bad: Games Workshop says project issues are delaying refresh of 'dated' online store
[13]Games Workshop finds that in the grim darkness of the 3rd millennium, there is only ERP
[14]Tabletop battle-toys purveyor Games Workshop again warns of risks in Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP project
"The complexity of our ERP upgrade has pushed back the start of a project to upgrade our digital offer, which includes personalising content and improving navigation, by about a year. We are currently in the scoping phase. The early concepts look amazing. It will be another major IT-supported project so we will be resourcing it appropriately with third party expertise," the report said.
Games Workshop is in the middle of making the move from Sage to a Microsoft Dynamics ERP system. In January 2021, [15]news came that the project had parted ways with its trusty ally – sorry, implementation partner – later revealed to be DXC Technology.
In terms of investment in assets, the ERP project required £1.1m in the year, on top of £2.3m on a new warehousing facility.
The delay also gained board-level attention. The board is "briefed on a monthly basis regarding major investments and ongoing relationships with key suppliers as required, most notably in the past 12 months in respect of the ongoing ERP implementation project," the report said.
[16]
Not that its gruelling ERP epic seems to have dented the company's financial standing. The latest figures show revenue grew to £191.5m in the six months to 28 November 2021 compared with £186.8m for the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, profit before tax fell to £88.2m from £91.6m. ®
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[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/01/12/shutterstock_blood_bowl.jpg
[2] https://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2017-18-Press-statement-final-v.pdf
[3] https://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/002-v-1-2021-22-half-year-report-Final-IR.pdf
[4] https://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2018-19-Annual-Report-with-Cover.pdf
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YeBauJ1J3ordlDAu5w9T5AAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YeBauJ1J3ordlDAu5w9T5AAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YeBauJ1J3ordlDAu5w9T5AAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/14/games_workshop_wants_to_freshen/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YeBauJ1J3ordlDAu5w9T5AAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://investor.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2020-21-accounts-full-report-cover.pdf
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/11/norfolk_county_council_oracle_delay/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/14/games_workshop_wants_to_freshen/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/15/games_workshop_erp_saga/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2020/01/14/games_workshop_warns_of_risks_in_microsoft_dynamics_365_erp_project/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/15/games_workshop_erp_saga/
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/databases&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YeBauJ1J3ordlDAu5w9T5AAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
When you've got a Warhammer, everything looks like a nail
Bolter FTW!
Yet another failed, er, delayed ERP project that's overbudget and undelivered. Death by a thousand cuts, or change orders.
Maybe at this point The Reg do so some public service and tally all their failed ERP projects year over year like the 12 days of bork, and name the incompetent (both implementer and customers that bought into them). Might pay it forward to the next generation of poor bastards that have to implement something new. ERP systems are always such nasty, nasty projects, no one gets out alive at the end of the day. They're almost as bad as medical HMS software.
Profit before tax £88.2m
Or one decent sized Imperial Guard army.
Re: Profit before tax £88.2m
Only if you don't go for the Forge world addons to your Astra Milliwhatsit force.
"more agile methodology"
They are doomed. It's a codeword for "we don't know exactly what we are doing so let's improvise"
"The early concepts look amazing"
Why ? Which artist did you hire to paint the figurines ?
Okay, I jest, but Games Workshop was a cornerstone in my AD&D years.
I do hope they'll make it through.
Re: "The early concepts look amazing"
AD&D is, sadly, a thing of the past. D&D 5e is almost back to AD&D greatness. The less we speak of the intervening versions the better.
/coat Mine's the chainmail one with a bastard sword in the pocket
Re: "The early concepts look amazing"
+1
*sigh*
"The post is required, and must contain letters."
Really??!! Not when you're making a dice modifier / saving throw reference it's not.
job ads
Over the past couple of years seen quite a few IT jobs advertised for Games Workshop.
Given reporting of the ERP fiasco in El Reg (& elsewhere) - knew not to touch those roles with a bargepole
Re: job ads
...not to touch these roles with a barge poleaxe. TFTFY.
Re: job ads
... or a chainsword, for that matter.
Re: job ads
What is this bargepole you speak of? We all know that the proper tool is a a 10 foot pole!
We bitch about government IT. But much of the private sector is no better. The number of people who can do this stuff is vastly outnumbered by accountants.
Yeah, but I bet the printed agenda for their board meetings are a LOT more fun...
"You are in a room full of people all wearing suits. There is a table and 18 chairs. On the table is a jug of water and 17 glasses.
To read the HR report, turn to page 2.
To read the financial statement, turn to page 18.
To read the director's report, turn to page 76.
For any other business, turn to page 83.
"
@Brewster's Angle Grinder
"We bitch about government IT. But much of the private sector is no better."
The bitching is mostly because the gov doesnt go broke when they throw money at these tasks, they just throw more money at our expense
Play the game,,,,
Are we going to succeed this year?
Roll 1d20
Hmm. Got a 1. That will be 'no' then.
Roll 5d10 to determine the cost in tens of thousands.
50. Bollocks..
"The early concepts look amazing."
lol, selling early concepts for millions of GBP. why be a code monkey?