Legacy App Modernisation Improves Efficiency for Watches of Switzerland

As businesses grow, legacy systems that once supported operations can begin to hold them back. For Watches of Switzerland, this became clear with its Goods Receipt App—the retailer’s first Fiori application.

Originally built on SAP Gateway and heavily customised for serial number tracking, the app was central to goods receipt and stock processing. Over time, however, its outdated architecture and growing technical debt led to performance issues, scalability limitations, and compliance concerns.

The knock-on effect was more than just an IT headache. Delays in processing stock slowed operational efficiency, created frustration for employees, and risked undermining the smooth customer experience that is vital in luxury retail. To safeguard efficiency and customer trust, Watches of Switzerland partnered with Bluestonex to re-platform the app onto SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). This was not just a technical upgrade, but a strategic step in their broader digital transformation—future-proofing operations through legacy app modernisation.

About the Client

Client: Watches of Switzerland
Industry: Luxury Retail
Headquarters: Leicester, United Kingdom
Showrooms: 195 across the UK, US, and Europe

Watches of Switzerland is a leading luxury watch retailer, known for exclusivity, quality, and a trusted reputation in luxury timepieces. With an expanding international presence, the group is investing in modern technologies to streamline operations, strengthen compliance, and scale sustainably in a highly competitive market.

Business Challenges

The Goods Receipt App was once a success story but had become a liability. Key challenges included:

• Performance Issues: Technical debt and legacy architecture slowed the app, reducing reliability and frustrating users.
• Scalability Concerns: The app could no longer keep up with Watches of Switzerland’s expanding operations.
• Security Risks: Running on outdated servers introduced vulnerabilities, raising compliance and future-proofing concerns.

These issues created operational inefficiencies and risked delaying stock processing—potentially impacting the customer experience in a market where speed, precision, and service quality underpin every luxury purchase.

Engagement and Solution Journey

Watches of Switzerland engaged Bluestonex to deliver a modernised Goods Receipt App that aligned with clean core principles and supported long-term transformation goals.

The project focused on:

• Reengineering Backend Integration: Optimising architecture to ensure seamless, reliable connectivity and eliminate long-standing issues.
• Modernising the User Experience: Redesigning the UI to streamline workflows and improve usability.
• Future-Proofing with SAP BTP: Migrating the app from SAP Gateway to SAP BTP, strengthening scalability, compliance, and resilience.

Real Impact Across the Business

The re-platformed app resolved the inefficiencies that once hampered operations. Staff now benefit from faster, more reliable processes, reducing delays in goods receipt and ensuring stock moves quickly to where it’s needed.

By modernising the app, Watches of Switzerland not only improved day-to-day efficiency but also reduced reliance on legacy servers. This aligns the company’s IT landscape with its broader transformation goals, paving the way for future innovation and additional legacy app modernisation projects.

Measuring Impact

• Enhanced Performance: Faster, more reliable functionality streamlined goods receipt processes.
• Improved Usability: A modern, intuitive UI boosted adoption and simplified workflows.
• Increased Security: Migration to SAP BTP eliminated vulnerabilities and strengthened compliance.
• Cost and Resource Optimisation: Legacy servers were retired under Bluestonex’s Partner Managed Cloud (PMC) model, cutting costs and improving flexibility.

Together, these outcomes delivered measurable improvements, ensuring the business could scale operations without compromising efficiency or compliance.

Looking Ahead

The success of the Goods Receipt App modernisation represents an important milestone in Watches of Switzerland’s digital transformation journey. With the solution performing strongly, the retailer is preparing a wider rollout across the UK before expanding further.

By addressing technical debt today and investing in legacy app modernisation, Watches of Switzerland has positioned itself for operational excellence and long-term innovation.

Learn more about how Bluestonex’s BTP Innovation and Support Factory helps businesses modernise legacy apps and accelerate operational efficiency.