SwatFame, a California-based apparel manufacturer renowned for its denim and casual wear, sought to modernize its legacy systems. The current system had been in use since 2009 and was in need of a significant update. The company wanted to refresh the look of the web pages and to create a system that could adapt to the company’s evolving operational needs, as the existing third-party system offered very limited customization options.

With a commitment to delivering high-quality apparel and staying ahead of market trends, SwatFame needed to match its external commitment by undertaking a digital transformation. In November 2020, they enlisted Code District with the following objectives:

• Automate and streamline order processing and production workflows
• Enhance user experience with a modern, intuitive interface
• Scale operations to support growing client demands and product lines
• Centralize data for real-time insights and improved decision-making
• Future-proof operations by transitioning to cloud-based, scalable technology

Challenges

SwatFame employees needed to navigate multiple disconnected systems to manage design, order processing, and inventory workflows, because the legacy systems lacked seamless integration. This fragmentation created inefficiencies and slowed operations.   Users had to repurpose available fields to store data, which often caused confusion for end users. The key challenges SwatFame faced included:

• Disconnected Systems: SwatFame's core workflows were divided across legacy systems like VB6-based Worksheet Entry and GDTS for order processing, AS400 for ERP, and Picture Planner for catalog generation. The lack of integration forced teams to manually transfer data between systems, leading to errors and delays.
• Inefficient Database Management: The outdated database schema resulted in redundant and poorly linked data, complicating inventory management and decision-making processes.
• Poor Scalability: The legacy systems couldn't scale to support increasing client demands or large-scale production workflows, limiting the company’s growth potential.
• Limited Collaboration: Siloed data and disjointed processes hindered collaboration between departments, slowing decision-making and reducing overall productivity. Sales teams had to manually generate reports and client catalogs, which were time-intensive and prone to errors.

As they began to explore the challenges, they learned that the discovery and programming teams lacked familiarity with the industry. However, as discussions around the current system and development progressed, the team began to better understand the business needs.

Solution

SwatFame partnered with Code District to modernize its legacy systems, focusing on creating a centralized, scalable web-based system that met their operational needs. “In some cases, we had to change our own design, and Code District was really helpful in completing our needs and making sure the integrity of the software was on point,” shared Dan Bride, IT Director, SwatFame. 

As Code District began to review the system, they discovered that certain steps in the workflow were outdated and no longer necessary due to changes in business methodologies. By evaluating existing processes, it became clear that some were redundant or unnecessary, enabling the implementation of several key improvements. The modernization project allowed the company to streamline workflows and integrate them into the new software.

Code District addressed these challenges:

• Unified Order Processing Platform: Two fragmented systems were consolidated into a comprehensive Order Entry (OE) system, and the outdated technology of the Garment Design Tracking System (GDTS) system was replaced with a single platform.
• Centralized Asset Management: A robust Process Lifecycle Management (PLM) system was developed to unify design workflows. Designers could manage components, bill of materials, and assets like images and documents from a single platform, improving efficiency.
• Enhanced Productivity: The centralized system allowed sales, design, and production teams to access and share data seamlessly. This improved interdepartmental collaboration as well as accelerated decision-making.
• Modern Database Architecture: The database schema was redesigned to eliminate redundancies and support real-time data updates. This provided accurate insights into inventory, orders, and production timelines.
• Real-Time Dashboards: An executive dashboard was introduced, offering real-time insights into key metrics such as reconciliation statuses, order fulfillment progress, and field staff activity.
• Scalable Cloud Infrastructure: The solution was deployed on Azure, leveraging services like Blob Storage and Elastic Compute for cost-effective scalability and seamless integration with their existing Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment.

Measuring the Impact of Modernization

The modernization of SwatFame’s legacy systems delivered significant improvements in operational efficiency, scalability, and user satisfaction. Code District created multiple improvements as outcomes of the project, backed by quantitative and qualitative metrics. 

With the unified system, internal collaboration improved significantly. Sales teams, designers, and managers could now access and share data seamlessly, enhancing decision-making. 

The new system eliminated redundant manual workflows. In fact, 90% of manual workflows were automated, significantly reducing administrative workload. Tasks that previously took hours, such as report generation and order management, were completed in minutes. Additionally, the project resulted in 40% faster order processing, enabling quicker client deliveries, and 70% faster report compilation with real-time data insights.

On the sales side, teams can now generate customized client reports, catalogs, and orders through a single platform, and 85% of sales personnel reported improved efficiency in client service. Additionally, there are 95% fewer errors in invoicing and order entry through automation. Designers benefited from centralized asset management, improving their workflow efficiency through features like drag-and-drop asset uploads and advanced search functionality. In fact, designers reported a 30% increase in workflow efficiency.

The modernization project resulted in 50% reduction in training time for new employees, ensuring faster onboarding, and 25% lower operational costs by retiring legacy systems and consolidating infrastructure. The transition to Azure ensured compliance with industry standards and provided a reliable foundation for long-term expansion.

SwatFame’s transformation from fragmented legacy systems to a unified, scalable platform has redefined their operational efficiency and agility. By integrating modern technologies, automating manual workflows, and streamlining order processing, SwatFame now benefits from faster, error-free operations and enhanced collaboration across departments. The company experienced a 100% increase in user capacity without performance issues, and 92% satisfaction among end-users post-implementation.

But what was the most impactful change that should drive long-term ROI? The system's flexibility to allow modifications and the addition of new features as needed is expected to deliver substantial long-term returns. The software has been tailored specifically to SwatFame’s unique business operations, recognizing that no two companies operate the same way. And, perhaps most importantly, the new system empowers users to perform at their highest potential, creating maximum efficiencies.

With Code District’s assistance putting a future-ready system in place, SwatFame is well-positioned to scale its offerings, meet evolving client demands, and maintain its leadership in the fashion and apparel industry.

“The solution offered by Code District was tailored specifically to Swat’s unique business operations, recognizing that no two companies operate the same way.” 
- Jonathan Greenberg, President of SwatFame

SwatFame’s System Transformation: Then and Now

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About Code District

Code District is a digital transformation consultancy and software company that works closely with technology and business leaders across industries to help them advance their organizations via AI-powered, purpose-built software solutions.

Opinions expressed by contributing authors are their own.