L'Etoile, Russia's shining retail star

«Before Axapta we used local accounting system 1C system but it had limited management facilities and it didn't give us a chance to process all information – says CIO of L'Etoile Nikolay Zaitsev, - while considering the Axapta implementation we have seen that it's able to solve our problems. L'etoile business partners already had positive experience with Axapta and Columbus IT has a developed ready solution for Retail industry.”

The key purposes of the project were to ensure the operational control and plan of commodity stocks, automation of supply. The most efforts have been bended on automation of assortment management, planning of purchases, and unification of the isolated logistical processes (planning - purchases – processing of entering / outcoming deliveries - processing of sales results).

Out-of-the-box

L'Etoile had been relying on an older Russian IT-system which had been expanded with some extra modules that L'Etoile had developed them selves. This was not a particularly flexible system and as a result, a lot of planning, ordering and other tasks where done using spreadsheets and smaller databases. This made it difficult to integrate information and to monitor business processes across the enterprise.

After scanning the market for possible IT-solutions and implementation partners L'Etoile decided that Columbus IT had the best offering. “Columbus IT was the only one partner in Moscow who had a Gold certified partner status that time and had ready Retail solution” – says Nikolay Zaitsev, - Columbus Retail solution is highest possible ready for using while other solutions are in need of improvement”.

Clear benefits

The solution has given L'Etoile the flexibility they need to consolidate and expand their position as market leaders.

“Now we can work much closer to real time”, explains IT Director Nikolay Zaitsev. “Handling the daily sales reports takes us less than 5 seconds per store now and planning the inventory for 150 shops with more than 40.000 products is done in less than an hour. Our whole logistics operation is now fully integrated and we handle purchasing, supplies, sales, pricing and many other aspects of our business with in the same system”.

CRM on the way

Part of L'Etoile success is built on innovative gift card concepts with attractive discounts. At present the retail chain has more than 200.000 customer's names in their gift card database. The new solution from Columbus IT Partner gives L'Etoile the capability to track purchases for each customer and to use this knowledge to build even stronger relationships with them. This CRM-element is also a fully integrated part of the Retail Manager for Microsoft Axapta.

Speed and flexibility

 “Retail is all about speed and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the market”, says Guillaume Vante. “With the new Retail Suite for Microsoft Axapta we have a very strong foundation for our future growth”.

Fast Implementation

“Thanks to the Columbus Retail Industry solution, the implementation has passed quickly enough: in December we have begun the implementation, and in April already worked in the new system, - has noted Nikolay Zaitsev”

Partnership

“L'Etoile is an extremely focused company”, - says Ilya Prokimnov, Consulting Director of Columbus Russia, - ‘They really know how to compete in the market place. I feel Columbus IT impressed them with our capabilities in retail industry combined with our broad offerings of standardized solutions. Customers don't have the time for long implementations. Expertise of Columbus, its implementation methodology Diamond and working retail solution allowed L'etoile to get Microsoft Axapta implemented fast and it solved all the customers problems.

About L'Etoile

Perfume and cosmetics retail chain established in Moscow in 1997. Is Russian market leader with more than 150 stores across 25 regions. They sell Gucci, YSL, Fendi, Kenzo and many other international cosmetics brands as well as their own line of personal care products. Also operates four beauty salons.