Handbag manufacturer Longchamp launches Cegid Retail Y2 globally

The IT project started in France and continued throughout Europe. As the company expanded in the USA and Asia, new business had been added on an ongoing basis. Following an upgrade to Cegid Retail Y2 software in 2018 and its launch in Australia in 2019, all stores now have access to the same tools to better meet local customer needs and provide immediate and accurate information on stock and sales.

Longchamp, the French leather goods brand, is a family business with a mix of private label shops and an additional 1,500 points of sale in department shops in 26 countries. The company employs over 3,000 people worldwide. The Cegid software has been implemented in over 300 shops.

New technologies like Click and Collect or Ship from Store are in the test phase. The luxury brand is also working on the introduction of mobile point-of-sale solutions for its flagship stores. This will enable staff to serve customers in-store even more efficiently using iPhones and the latest Omnichannel technologies, including clienteling and loyalty apps that provide even more personalised service.

The Cegid software is also used to enable more local events specifically tailored to each country and type of customer. This includes obtaining crucial information about customers' shopping preferences - or, for example, the nationalities of customers visiting different shops. This gives staff a better idea of what they have to offer.

Leica cooperates with Cegid and focuses on improved customer satisfaction

For more than 75 shops in 15 countries and its international network of 140 shop-in-shop format boutiques, Leica was looking for a cloud solution to integrate its network of stores on a single platform. The aim was to obtain a uniform view of the customer and the inventory in order to achieve even stronger customer loyalty.

Leica Camera AG, an international premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, has therefore started to equip its digital infrastructure in shops worldwide with the implementation of the cloud-based omnichannel POS solution Cegid Retail Y2.
The comprehensive view of all customer and inventory data enabled a more personal and consistent service in the international shops. Helmut Heier, Head of Retail at Leica, explained:

"Our customers are passionate advocates of photography and expect an immersive brand experience in our stores that blends technical knowledge and operational insight with inspiration and an artistic understanding of capturing a good shot. Therefore, our store staff have to be able to fulfil this complex dual role to deliver the premium level of bespoke service that our customers have come to expect from their Leica shopping experiences. The solution from Cegid will allow us to unify our store systems on one platform," Heier continued. "This will not only provide consistency in terms of a single view of stock and customer data but, because of Cegid's global experience, also allow us to centrally deploy the system while guaranteeing compliance in each market.”

After the pilot project in the headquarters, all Leica-owned businesses will be migrated to the new system. In the future, Leica is planning to introduce the mobile clienteling solution from Cegid. Employees in the shops will then be able to offer customers an even more individual shopping experience. Previous purchases can be viewed at the touch of a button using 360° customer data, or social media interactions and cancelled purchases can be tracked. Employees can also suggest additional services or complementary products via the complete digital catalogue. This leads to centralised customer data for more efficient administration, promoting loyalty and increasing sales opportunities.

Cegid cloud capabilities transform Paul Smith's customer experience

When UK designer fashion brand Paul Smith wanted to redefine the shopping experience in more than 200 shops based in 16 countries, the company was looking for a fast and cost-effective solution to increase customer loyalty. Cegid won the race with its Cegid Retail Y2 point-of-sale system because it was the only provider that was able to offer global cloud capabilities for the multinational company. The Cegid Retail Y2 POS system provides an agile approach and access to data from across the organisation to create a truly all-encompassing shopping experience.

The implementation began when Paul Smith decided to carry out a complete system overhaul, including a new ERP solution integrated with the Point of Sale (POS).

"We conducted a formal selection process and Cegid was a good cultural fit," said Paul Smith's Finance Director, James Horsley. "The fact that they were truly global really stood out for us as we wanted one system for our entire business - which seemed to be a major constraint for other vendors."

Paul Smith implemented the software in two phases, starting in the UK before rolling it out globally. This allowed us to test the deployment on a smaller scale and bring key findings to the global phase to ensure a smooth implementation.

"The solution is highly configurable and we needed to understand how we could use this flexibility in the UK before moving to the rest of the world," added James Horsley. "There are small nuances in every country we operate. That's why we needed a solution with a global core, which could be tailored to each region."

With Paul Smith, you can already see the bottom line benefits:

• Inventory visibility has increased by 90%
• 100% accurate synchronisation of information across the enterprise, every hour
• Gift cards that use live customer data can be supported. This reduces the duplication of customer databases by 90%, giving a much more accurate picture of each customer
• More accurate data enables the brand to create expanded customer loyalty programmes and additional incentives for customers
• Cegid's cloud solution provides a platform for scalable innovation

Although the Cegid Retail cash register system has already proven successful, Paul Smith is planning to use the platform in the future to expand the omnichannel offering.

"We want to improve the customer experience even more," concluded James. "The mobile POS is next on our agenda, which will allow us to serve shoppers more flexibly and explore what new mobile shop technology will follow."

Delsey expands into the Asian market with Cegid

To support its expansion in Asia, Delsey was looking for a long-term technology partner with an established POS solution that was avialable worldwide. Here Delsey chose Cegid Retail.

Founded in 1946, Delsey is a French company specialising in the development and manufacturing of luggage. With over 6,000 shops on five continents it ranks second in the world in the baggage sector.

"We needed a proven best-in-class solution to manage our retail operations in Asia and India and a dedicated partner with strong international expertise and reach," said Cathérine De Bleeker, Global Marketing Director at Delsey.

In just a few months, the Cegid Retail solution was implemented in more than forty shops in Hong Kong and China, enabling the brand to optimise its retail operations and expand its network of stores. The Cegid Retail POS system provided Delsey with first-class merchandising, sales, customer service and CRM functions, including modern loyalty programmes and web-to-store. Furthermore, it offered a unique and centralised database that is shared by all channels and updated in real time. It contains all customer, product, price and sales information.

"A single central database that manages the flow of merchandise, customer and sales information across all our distribution channels in real time was critical for us. It also gives us the ability to continuously track and generate reports on our sales and activities worldwide," comments Cathérine De Bleeker.

Furla chooses Cegid to support international expansion

Furla was looking for a solid and future-proof international technology partner and an all-encompassing, innovative retail solution. Processes were to be optimised and customers offered a unique shopping experience. After thorough market research, the company chose Cegid Retail Y2, the omnichannel software that enables retailers to manage their activities and customers in real-time across multiple channels.

Founded in 1927 in Bologna, Italy, the Italian fashion brand Furla is one of the most important "Made in Italy" brands in the fashion ecosystem. Internationally established, renowned for creativity and quality, 100% Italian design. Since its foundation, the company has been creating and distributing high-quality and elegant bags, shoes and accessories.

The project covered two main areas - shop management and customer loyalty - and started in Europe. More than 340 shops are now equipped with Cegid Retail Y2, the new omnichannel solution from Cegid. With Cegid Retail Y2, all distribution channels can be managed more effectively, customers can be better understood and the control and visibility of the business can be centralised through a single solution.

"In fashion retailing, from luxury to premium services, it is crucial to know your customers and build a strong relationship with them. By using a system that allows us to centrally manage all our shops around the world, taking into account all regional differences, we have been able to significantly improve the shopping experience in our shops as part of our commitment to provide unparalleled customer service worldwide," said Eraldo Poletto, CEO of Furla.

This is now made possible by a centralised, cloud-based database that provides accurate, real-time data regarding sales, inventory and customers, as well as a true clienteling strategy to improve and support the brand's strategic decisions for the future. The specific processes and requirements for each region and the simplicity of use are key elements of the global project, which expects to continue to grow thanks to the good results achieved so far.

L'Occitane uses Cegid to manage over 1,000 shops worldwide

L'Occitane, founded in 1976 in Manosque, France, is a world-renowned brand specialising in pure and natural cosmetics and perfumes. With more than 2,500 boutiques - own shops and concessions - the company is active in over 100 countries.

L'Occitane chose the Cegid Retail Y2 point-of-sale system to drive its international expansion and manage its worldwide network of stores. More than 1,000 shops in over 25 countries are now equipped with Cegid Retail Y2. The implementation has enabled L'Occitane to improve the management of its retail activities, optimise merchandising, sales, customer relationship management and unify the group's retail processes into a single core model. L'Occitane now has a solution that is perfectly adapted to its shop management, CRM, merchandising and inventory management needs.

"At the forefront of the business, the IT system plays a central role in L'Occitane Group's brand development by improving operational productivity at all levels and providing retail-specific innovation," said Etienne de Verdelhan, VP Process Optimization & Chief Information Officer at L'Occitane Group.

The solution is adapted for each country (language, taxes, regulations, credit card payments, etc.) and also covers the processes and industry requirements specific to each location.

"We now manage all our business worldwide with a modern, international IT system and are able to standardise and optimise our processes at group level. Measuring operational excellence for each location has become easy," said L'Occitane's CIO.

In line with L'Occitane's customer-centric approach, Cegid Retail Y2 offers new, value-added customer relationship management (CRM) features, such as a powerful loyalty programme tailored to the needs of each country. For both complex point programmes in Asia, customer relationship schemes and special offers in Europe. In addition, innovative features such as in-store mobility, Omnichannel integration and biometric identification of sales staff are also available.

"We can now enjoy a more complex interaction with our customers, manage loyalty points in real time across all sales channels, customise promotions and offer services such as web-to-store," says Etienne.