Herno, an Italian fashion retailer with stores across Europe, the US and Asia, has started to equip five of its flagship stores with cloud-based retail technology from Cegid as part of an ongoing expansion programme.

Following the rapid growth of the company in Italy and abroad, the existing technology and infrastructure had to be updated to cope with an expanding retail chain breaking into new markets.

Herno said it chose the cloud-based solution from Cegid because of the ease of adding new stores and guaranteed compliance with payment and accounting regulations in different countries. This would make adherence to local tax calculations and reporting much easier, with systems automatically configured to the regional languages and different currencies where the brand operates.

“Being able to work with a technology partner that is truly capable of understanding the complexities and needs of an international brand like ours represents enormous added value,” says Claudio Marenzi, president of Herno.

The Cegid Retail Y2 software has so far been deployed in Herno’s flagship stores in London, Paris, New York and two in Italy. The second phase of the project plans to add 20 more boutiques in Japan.

Cegid, which has a strong pedigree of helping other luxury fashion brands with international retail software rollouts – including Paul Smith, Longchamp and Lacoste – says that high-end retailers have to differentiate themselves by using more customer-facing technologies that reflect the personality of the brand and offer an unforgettable customer experience.

“Cegid’s philosophy and technology work in perfect harmony with our expansion strategies, looking carefully at what are the fundamental pillars in today’s luxury business, as today’s shopper is increasingly connected, informed and demanding,” says Marenzi. “We are really satisfied with what we have achieved so far and are excited about what we can still do together in the future.”

Herno, which was first established in 1948, is best known for its elegant and functional coats made with the best materials and with extreme attention to detail. Over recent years, the entire organisation has innovated itself to make it more dynamic, streamlined and in step with the times – including expanding its range of outerwear, launching online and opening more stores abroad.

“This prestigious partnership confirms how our solutions and vision of the future are able to address the needs of iconic brands in the luxury world and support them in their international expansions,” said Mario Davalli, Country Manager of Cegid Southern and Eastern Europe.”