Accounting for the future: Watches of Switzerland Enhancing Operational Efficiency via Key Legacy App Upgrade

About Watches of Switzerland

Watches of Switzerland is a leading luxury watch retailer with a reputation for quality and exclusivity. With operations spanning the UK, the US, and parts of Europe, Watches of Switzerland has been a trusted name in luxury timepieces for decades. As they expand their business and adapt to new market dynamics, Watches of Switzerland is transforming their technology infrastructure to prioritise scalability, efficiency, and streamlined operations across their global presence.

The Challenge

The Goods Receipt App, originally developed as Watches of Switzerland’s first Fiori application was built on legacy SAP Gateway technology and heavily customised to meet the group’s unique and complex requirements for serial number tracking. However, as business needs evolved, this bespoke solution began to face significant challenges:

• Performance Issues: Increasing technical debt and outdated architecture affected the app’s reliability and speed, frustrating users and reducing operational efficiency.
• Scalability Concerns: The app’s limitations hindered its ability to scale alongside Watches of Switzerland’s growing footprint.
• Security Risks: Running on legacy servers introduced compliance vulnerabilities, raising concerns about future-proofing the solution.

The Solution

Bluestonex partnered with Watches of Switzerland to re-platform the Goods Receipt App onto SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) as part of our custom app development service, addressing both technical and functional shortcomings, in line with Clean Core Principles.

The re-development focused on

1. Reengineering Backend Integration: Bluestonex optimised the app’s backend architecture, ensuring seamless data transmission between systems while resolving long-standing connectivity issues.
2. Modernising the User Experience: The app’s UI was redesigned with a focus on ease of use, aligning with Watches of Switzerland’s high standards for operational simplicity.
3. Futureproofing with SAP BTP: Transitioning to SAP BTP not only improved performance but also enhanced scalability and security compliance, meeting Watches of Switzerland’s digital transformation goals.

The Outcome

The upgraded Goods Receipt App has delivered measurable improvements across Watches of Switzerland’s operations:

• Enhanced Performance: The app now offers faster and more reliable functionality, significantly reducing delays in goods receipt processing.
• Improved Usability: Tailored UI enhancements have boosted user satisfaction and streamlined day-to-day operations.
• Increased Security: Migrating from legacy SAP Gateway to SAP BTP has eliminated vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with modern security standards.
• Cost and Resource Optimisation: Transitioning this and other Fiori apps to SAP BTP under Bluestonex’s Partner Managed Cloud (PMC) model has allowed Watches of Switzerland to retire legacy servers, reducing overheads while increasing flexibility.

A Strategic Milestone

The Goods Receipt App’s successful replatforming marks a significant step in Watches of Switzerland’s digital transformation journey. By resolving technical debt and embracing modern cloud-based technologies, the group has positioned itself for long-term operational excellence.

Next Steps

Following the app’s initial rollout, Watches of Switzerland plans to expand its deployment across the UK early next year, further embedding its benefits into daily operations. This project exemplifies Bluestonex’s expertise in managing complex legacy upgrades, enabling clients to achieve sustained efficiency and innovation.