Debenhams buys project management app

Department store chain Debenhams has implemented a project management application from CA to streamline its IT development activities.

The application, Clarity, is used to monitor IT projects across the business and has been used to update HR systems and create an order fulfilment system for the retailer's website.

The system allows Debenhams IT staff to make forecasts about projects up to 14 months into the future.

According to Debenhams business systems controller Dominic Nash, the application was used to rationalise two older project management suites.

The best of silicon.com photos

1. Photos: Second Life gets down to business

2. Photos: Taking the wraps off Windows 7

3. Photos: Honda kick starts motorcycle safety tech

4. Minority Report: 10 Apple patents to watch

5. Photos: Cops use tech to point the finger of suspicion

He told silicon.com: "We were duplicating information and spending more time than we needed to making sure reports added up. We needed one version of the truth."

Debenhams piloted the application 12 months ago and the system went fully live in September 2008, Nash explained.

He said: "The application had to pay back money in terms of savings on administration time that can now be devoted to project work. But the soft benefits are around more accurate information at our fingertips so that we can make more informed decisions about where projects are."

The knock on effect to the business is that IT projects designed to improve business processes actually achieve their desired aim. Nash hopes also that costs on IT development can be kept down by spotting the underachievers early on in the project.

He said: "We can spot projects that aren't going to time or budget and identify those which need our urgent attention."