UNPARALLELED OMNI-CHANNEL SERVICES FOR THE MOST DISCERNING LUXURY CUSTOMERS
VALENTINO and YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP (YNAP) have partnered to create a new omni-channel business model – NEXT ERA – to elevate the customer experience by reinventing the relationship between luxury brands and online retailers.
NEXT ERA is built on YNAP’s unique understanding of the evolving luxury consumer ecosystem. It is a new business model that has its foundations in the valentino.com Online Flagship Store (powered by YNAP, a long-term partnership formed in 2008). This next generation model will enable VALENTINO customers’ unprecedented online access to its products by leveraging the inventory from VALENTINO boutiques and logistic centres as well as YNAP’s global network of eight fulfilment centres across the globe, stretching from New York and Dubai to Milan and Shanghai. NEXT ERA will capitalize on YNAP’s unique distribution channels, specifically designed for the luxury industry.
Through this all-encompassing platform, VALENTINO customers will gain access to an even more extensive product assortment, in-store mobile features (smooth checkout flow, full product information and availability of online inventory), and faster delivery, with an enhanced service available in major cities where orders can be fulfilled from VALENTINO boutiques.
NEXT ERA combines YNAP’s state-of-the-art technology with a leading-edge Order Management System in partnership with IBM that offers VALENTINO a single view of its inventory and a comprehensive profile of its customer base.
Utilising the Group’s unparalleled knowledge of online luxury customer behaviour, YNAP will create a fully revamped valentino.com, creating a superior retail experience with a mobile-centric interface, a new look and feel and new functionality powered by Artificial Intelligence such as on-site personalisation and contextual search, enabling customers to use natural language to interact with the digital store.
The scope of this initiative is broad-reaching. Beyond the apparent benefits to be enjoyed by VALENTINO customers, the model unlocks enormous service improvements to customers of both NET-A-PORTER and
MR PORTER. By integrating the VALENTINO Online Flagship Store inventory with the one allocated to
NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER the circa 10 million unique visitors of the world’s leading fashion e-commerce sites will have access to an unrivalled assortment of VALENTINO product with enhanced express delivery options around the world. Building on the strengths of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER, the VALENTINO collections will continue to be brought to life through award winning content, superior product photography and video and expert styling and will be delivered in the stores’ hallmark packaging.
NEXT ERA is a pioneering initiative that has at its heart YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP’s innovative, service-centric approach and its dedication to its ever-growing and highly discerning customer base and brand partners.
