Yoox Net-a-Porter Group and IBM form "game-changing alliance"

London - Yoox- Net-a-Porter (YNAP), online luxury fashion retailer has joined forces with technological firm IBM to form a long-term strategic partnership which aims to enhance YNAP platform, share technology and develop a new think-tank.

The new partnership aims to focus on enhancing YNAP omni-channel capabilities, built around customer-centric innovation, which in turn will allow IBM to leverage YNAP’s capabilities in the online luxury fashion space. Through the new partnership Yoox Net-a-Porter is set to lay the foundation for the development of one shared technology platform across all its multi-brand and mono-brand online stores, whilst expediting the post-merger system integration of Yoox and Net-a-Porter. At the same time YNAP is set to channel its in-house technology efforts in the areas of personalisation and tailored brand experiences, as well as focus on mobile and app developments, customer insights and analytics, and social media marketing.

Yoox Net-a-Porter Group teams up with IBM to form the future of luxury online fashion

“This game-changing alliance will benefit our customers and brand partners, allowing us to push our ambitions even further as we continue to create the future of fashion,” said Alex Alexander, Chief Information Officer at Yoox Net-a-Porter Group in a statement. “The partnership with IBM will enable our exceptionally talented technology team to focus on what it is renowned for: industry-leading innovation, cutting-edge technology and customer-centric solutions.”

As a result of the new partnership, YNAP teams across Italy and the UK are set to develop new technology which will combine IBM’s commerce technology with its own in-house solutions to fulfil the needs of its customers as well as its luxury brand partners. In addition, YNAP and IBM have also created a Fashion and Luxury innovation committee, a think-tank, where YNAP and its brand partners can contribute ideas as well as input to IBM for the ongoing development of bespoke e-commerce solutions. In turn, YNAP is set to join the IBM Customer Advisory Council, a forum of select IBM customers, whose input is of high regard to IBM product development.

“The fashion industry is constantly reinventing itself and creating innovative ways to engage with digital savvy shoppers,” commented John Mesberg, General Manager, Offering Management and Strategy for IBM Commerce. “By embracing IBM Commerce capabilities, Yoox Net-a-Porter Group is perfectly positioned to engage with shoppers through personalized experiences that are based on their unique style and shopping preferences and delivered across any device or channel.”

YNAP will implement IBM’s order management system, which will enable the online luxury fashion retailer to enhance it omni-channel offer by allowing seamless inventory integration between YNAP and its brand’s distribution enters and retail networks. IBM order management system will also act as a key enable to help YNAP realise its goal of operating global stock synergies, by allowing customers from anywhere in the world to access one global virtual inventory. YNAP partnership with IBM will also see the online retailer implement IBM web sphere commerce and e-commere suite, which will help the online retailer to develop distinctive and unique customer and brand experiences for all of its multi-brand and mono-brand storefronts.