How Primark strengthened portfolio visibility and governance with Planisware Orchestra

As one of the world’s leading fashion retailers, Primark oversees an ambitious change agenda designed to strengthen the business for the future. With operations spanning multiple markets and thousands of employees, managing transformation at this scale requires structure, transparency, and consistency. In September 2024, Primark implemented Planisware Orchestra as their strategic portfolio management tool to track, manage, and report on the Primark Change Portfolio through 2030. 

This move marked a significant step in ensuring that the company could not only deliver on its immediate priorities but also embed long-term discipline into how change is governed and reported. 

Driving transparency across portfolios 

Visibility across portfolios was one of Primark’s most pressing needs. Without a unified tool, it can be difficult to gain an accurate and timely picture of work underway across such a large organisation. Planisware Orchestra provides a single source of truth, consolidating information into one platform and removing the need for fragmented systems or manual reporting. 

This shift means that leaders can now see, at a glance, how different programmes are progressing and how they align with the company’s wider strategy. Real-time insights into portfolio performance allow for better assessment of initiatives and improved prioritisation, helping Primark to focus its investment and resources on the activities that deliver the greatest impact. At the same time, the ability to visualise integrated roadmaps brings clarity to sequencing and dependencies, enabling the business to make more confident decisions about the order and timing of its transformation projects. 

Strengthening governance and delivery 

Alongside transparency, governance was another core driver of Primark’s move to Orchestra. By embedding Planisware into their Delivery Governance Framework, the business has strengthened its ability to apply consistent standards across programmes and projects. Teams now have a common approach to project management, reducing variation and ensuring that activities are planned and monitored in the same way across the business. 

This consistency supports both oversight and delivery. With a standardised framework, governance meetings are clearer, reporting is streamlined, and leadership can be assured that all programmes are being managed against the same criteria. Orchestra also supports new demand management and prioritisation, ensuring that proposed initiatives are evaluated not only on their potential benefits but also in terms of resource and capacity. This means that decisions about which projects to progress are informed by a clear view of availability and impact, strengthening alignment with strategic priorities. 

Real business impact 

Since introducing Orchestra, Primark has seen massive improvements in the way it manages its portfolio. The platform has organised and centralised the view of all ongoing initiatives, providing visibility at a level that was not previously possible. This has brought clarity to decision-making and created a shared understanding across teams. 

Practical benefits are also being realised. Report preparation has been streamlined, reducing the time and effort previously spent consolidating information from multiple sources. Audit processes have become simpler, with project details and documentation stored centrally and easy to access. This has not only saved time but has also strengthened accountability and compliance. Positive feedback from the internal audit team has reinforced the value of this change, noting that the recent audit process was more efficient thanks to Orchestra. 

In day-to-day delivery, teams now benefit from easy access to phase gate artefacts, ensuring that project milestones are properly documented and readily available for review. Programme and project management practices have been standardised, giving the organisation a consistent foundation for delivery. Real-time reporting ensures that any issues can be identified early, and progress can be tracked accurately, reducing the risk of delays or misalignment. Together, these changes have built stronger governance, improved transparency, and provided Primark with a reliable platform to deliver on its ambitious change agenda. 

Why Planisware Orchestra? 

Planisware Orchestra was chosen because it balances flexibility with structure, making it a strong fit for organisations like Primark that are managing complex but evolving portfolios. It provides the classic project and portfolio management capabilities needed to oversee initiatives while also being highly configurable to meet the specific needs of the business. 

By supporting resource and capacity management, Orchestra makes it easier to allocate people effectively and understand workload across teams. Its ability to handle portfolio funding ensures that financial resources are aligned to strategic priorities, while integrated roadmaps give leaders a clear line of sight across interdependent projects. For Primark, these capabilities have not only brought greater control but have also ensured that transformation efforts can move forward with confidence. 

What to expect at Exchange25 UK 

Looking ahead, Primark will be sharing its experience at Exchange25 UK, Planisware’s annual customer event. Its session, ‘The Future of Fashion-Tech Partnerships’ will highlight how retailers are increasingly collaborating with software providers to embed digital solutions into their operations. For Primark, this is about more than efficiency, it’s about enhancing customer experiences, enabling innovation, and ensuring the business is equipped for the demands of modern retail. 

In their presentation, the Primark technology team will explore both the benefits they have seen since adopting Planisware Orchestra and the broader role that technology partnerships will play in fashion’s future. Attendees can expect insights into how a global retailer is managing transformation through 2030, how governance frameworks are being reinforced with digital tools, and how integrating portfolio management into everyday operations can create the conditions for long-term success.