Confiz enables Stylo Group to become the first retail network in MENA to migrate to Cloud

Stylo has become the first retail network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to migrate to the cloud with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Confiz, a technology enabler and Microsoft Partner, is supporting Stylo Group’s big move towards the cloud.

Stylo Group has several entities including but not limited to retail franchise network, a manufacturing company and a couple of other initiatives.

The organization will be approaching an end-to end solution covering four crucial functions:

• Manufacturing
• Human Resources
• Retail Management
• Financial Management.

Previously, Stylo Group was using two on-premise Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Dynamics AX to manage its franchise operations, Supply Chain and Oracle Ebiz for Financials, HR, Payroll and Manufacturing. These on-premise solutions were meeting their bare minimum needs for ERP, but these solutions provided limited flexibility and scalability for future.

One of the main reasons behind the migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 was lack of failover, load balancers and DR sites rendering the system not ready for disasters.

While speaking to TechJuice, Group Chairman of Stylo Mr. Mazhar Husain Siddiqui says, “We strongly feel that Dynamics 365 is the platform through which we can innovate much quicker. With added functionalities like Microsoft Social, Dynamics CRM, Clienteling and much more, together with our added advantage as earliest movers to the cloud, we can continue to remain ahead of our competition.”

Cloud-based services are in high demand. According to reports, cloud vendors are witnessing a 50% growth rate per year and almost all good resource intensive services are shifting to the cloud.

With Dynamics 365, Stylo Group will now have increased ability to leverage 3rd party line-of-business applications and customizations available at Microsoft AppSource. Stylo has also decided to move all its operations to one ERP which will eventually reduce process bottlenecks, while adding agility in innovation to their internal processes.

Commenting on this development, Shoaib Khalil, Sales Lead at Microsoft Pakistan said, “Microsoft solutions enable retailers like Stylo to combine the best of digital and in-store to deliver personal, seamless, and differentiated customer experiences.”

Migration to cloud is often considered a no-brainer for many organizations. There is so much buzz and discussion around the topic that major number of organizations are compelled to jump on the cloud bandwagon without understanding their particular needs. In such a situation, a smart technology organization, which can identify benefits and make the transition very smooth, if needed, is required. Confiz has exactly played that role for Stylo Group.

“These are exciting times for retailers,” says Mr. Hashim Ali Zulfiqar, COO of Confiz, “and we are driving, propelling and enabling retailers globally to embrace digital transformation. The Pakistani retail industry has huge potential –it is important for businesses in this region to invest in becoming tech-savvy so they remain competitive in the international market.”

This is the first deal of Dynamics 365 in the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for Microsoft.

This branded content has been made possible in partnership with the sponsor Confiz.