Games Workshop once again battles ERP gone wrong • The Register

UK tabletop wargames maker Games Workshop’s seemingly neverending battle with its own ERP implementation has entered another chapter, as global projects are delayed owing to the difficulty integrating the new system.

In 2020, The Register revealed the Warhammer manufacturer was struggling with a Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation, which was meant to finish going live later that year.

However, in its latest half-year results [PDF], the UK-based company said: “Our global projects continue to be delayed – it remains an ongoing challenge to integrate new IT systems when we are still heavily reliant on working with our legacy IT systems. Finishing these projects and upgrading our systems continue to be a key area of focus. We are making some progress but it’s costing us more time and money – we will remain cost conscious.”

The document went on to describe “the challenges our relatively new global head of IT is dealing with.”

“The team is starting to make some progress. They are feeling part of the solution and the broader team rather than a support function. The goal remains the same: our IT systems and infrastructure adapt and scale with the business as we grow – they’re currently holding us back. We will continue to invest in the team in the period ahead, the senior IT team must spend this investment wisely,” the note to investors said.

Spending on the project dates to 2019 when investment in computer equipment and software went up to £3.7 million ($4.5 million) from £2.6 million ($3.15 million) in the previous financial year, largely owing to the ERP migration.

Later in 2020, the Nottingham-based injection moulding specialist said it had parted ways with its ERP implementation partner – a company The Register revealed as DXC. It would not name the new IS, despite our requests.

“We have made some good progress on implementing our European ERP system and we are working with a new partner to help achieve the completion of this long and complex project,” a company report said.

Individuals close to the project suggested a team has left DXC Technology to work with Games Workshop independently.

In 2021, the tiny character maker launched another £500,000 ($605,000) at the project. “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,” a report said at the time.

The Register has contacted Games Workshop for comment.

Interest in the table-top figure manufacturer has increased since December 2022, when Amazon reached an “agreement in principle” with Games Workshop, giving the online retailer, tech and media giant the film, television and merchandising rights to the company’s sci-fi Warhammer 40,000 franchise, and signed up actor Henry Cavill, most recently seen as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. ®