Valentino and Yoox Net-A-Porter Group unveil new omnichannel model

Yoox Net-A-Porter Group and luxury house Valentino have teamed up to present a new omni-channel business model, NEXT ERA, which will launch in early 2018.

The model, which has its foundations on Valentino.com that is powered by YNAP's Online Flagship Store platform, will enable Valentino's customers to access inventory from all Valentino's boutiques and logistics centres as well as the YNAP global network of eight fulfilment centres from New York to Dubai and Milan to Shanghai.

As a result of the new model, 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 technology with a leading-edge Order Management System created in partnership with IBM that offers Valentino a single view of its inventory and a comprehensive profile of its customer base.

YNAP will create a fully revamped valentino.com early next year and is promising 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 benefits of the NEXT ERA platform will also extend to YNAP's own multi-brand luxury etail sites NET-A-PORTER.com and MR PORTER.com, whose 10m customers will also be able to access the enhanced Valentino inventory and services.

Key features of NEXT ERA include:

Integrated inventory - a full view of inventory across all stores and warehouses

Mobile in-store - customers can opt to buy via mobile in-store without interacting with a salesperson

Pick-up and return in-store - enabling customers to fulfil their orders when they see fit and offering brands to offer further shopping opportunities when the customer is in-store

Fastest fulfilment - the platform will automatically select the fastest fulfilment option

Single customer view - Valentino will gain a single view of its customers’ interactions in-store and online

Multi-fulfilment - allowing customers to have orders fulfilled however they went, e.g. having different products sent to different addresses