Exception

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive of Harris Tweed Authority

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Harris Twwed Authority (HTA) was brought into being by the 1993 Act of Parliament as a statutory body.  The HTA is charged with a general duty of furthering the Harris Tweed industry as a means of livlihood for those who live in the Outer Hebrides by safeguarding the standartd and reputation of, promotimng awarness in all part of the world of, and disemminating information about, material falling within the definition of Harris Tweed and articles made from it.  

In accordance with the Act, Harris Tweed cloth must be: “Handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.”  The Act ensures that all cloth certified with the Harris Tweed Orb symbol complies with this definition.

This legislation – alongside the work of the HTA – allows the safeguarding of the Harris Tweed name, quality and reputation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Exception to accomplish?

• Digital Infrastructure Transformation: A phased migration from legacy tools to a modern, secure and integrated cloud ecosystem
• Enhanced Brand Protection: Leveraging the new digital infrastructure and AI to automate compliance, audit preparation, and brand monitoring, ensuring the integrity of the Harris Tweed® brand and Orb trademark
• Digitally Certified Tweed: Explore opportunities around the concept of "Digitally Certified Tweed" to provide a verifiable digital identity for every finished product.

SOLUTION

How did you find Exception?

Online Search

Why did you select Exception over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Exception were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The HTA manages many of its operational processes through legacy tools, local files, and manual data entry and data re-entry.  These systems have served the organisation effectively, but they limit scalability, audit readiness, and cross-team collaboration.  

Feasibility work undertaken by Exception therefore set out a set of initiatives that provide a clear roadmap for digitising core administrative, cloth certification and communication functions.  Implementation of the work will establish a secure and efficient digital foundation that aligns with the Authority’s future strategy.  Each component was designed to streamline operations, enhance transparency, and support the brand’s statutory responsibility for authenticity and provenance.  The key modules outlined included establishment of a Cloud Document Management System; an Interactive Brand and Query Agent; an Inspection and Meterage Management App and e-mail Monitor and CRM.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Completion of a detailed Feasibility Study and Strategic Action Plan that sets the parametres for future investment decisions.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Exception were highly responsive and a good cultrual fit for the HTA. They quickly grasped the strategic requirements for a unique business model and were able to offer innovative but pragmatic and implementable solutions.

What was your primary form of communication with Exception?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Exception were able to readily translate difficult technology concepts and jargon into everyday langauge that was easily digestible and understood.   

Are there any areas for improvement or something Exception could have done differently?

Nothing to add here.  Extremely happy with Exception and how they went about the work and their work and in their final delivery.