SAP Integration, but a ‘zillion’ times faster: Two-week Integration with SAP Integration Suite

Client Overview

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.

To support this vision, Watches of Switzerland enlisted Bluestonex to integrate Zillion, an insurance agency, through SAP Integration Suite. This initiative was crucial in their journey to transition from legacy, custom-built systems to a modernised, cloud-based architecture.

The Business challenge

Traditionally, Watches of Switzerland managed integrations with custom in-house middleware, but the team faced a pressing challenge in integrating Zillion into their SAP environment within an extremely tight two-week window. Limited by the unavailability of key internal team members and project leads, Watches of Switzerland needed an experienced partner who could work autonomously and deliver a high-quality integration with minimal disruption.

The project scope required two key interfaces: one between Zillion and their POS system, and another with SAP ECC6. Given the accelerated timeline and resource limitations, Watches of Switzerland turned to Bluestonex to ensure the project was completed seamlessly and on time.

Solution

As part of our SAP BTP Support and Innovation Factory Service, we rapidly assembled a dedicated team to deploy and configure SAP Integration Suite, establishing the connectivity required between Zillion and Watches of Switzerland’s systems. The solution included:

Quick Deployment of SAP Integration Suite: Bluestonex implemented the development and production environments on SAP Integration Suite in record time, readying the system for configuration and testing within days. 

Custom Mapping of Data Output: Working closely with Watches of Switzerland, Bluestonex tailored the integration output to a JSON format that met Zillion’s specifications. This involved creating an iDoc that connected seamlessly with SAP, while Bluestonex managed the mapping to ensure data was delivered in Zillion’s required structure.

Seamless Integration with Legacy Systems: The Bluestonex team ensured that the integration was compatible with Watches of Switzerland’s on-prem SAP ECC6 environment. This approach minimised disruption, reduced risks, and avoided the need for costly overhauls.

Implementation Benefits

Despite the limited timeframe, Bluestonex’s agile approach enabled Watches of Switzerland to achieve a successful go-live for the Zillion integration in under two weeks. Key benefits realized through SAP Integration Suite include:

Enhanced Scalability: The Zillion integration serves as a foundational project in Watches of Switzerland’s phased adoption of SAP Integration Suite, preparing the company for future integrations and a smoother transition to SAP S/4HANA. 

Risk Reduction through External Expertise: With Bluestonex managing the deployment, Watches of Switzerland was able to meet the tight deadline without compromising on quality. The integration suite’s flexible design also ensures that future ERP changes, such as a shift to a new platform, will be less complex and disruptive. 

Improved Operational Stability: The successful Zillion integration enabled Watches of Switzerland to reduce reliance on custom in-house middleware, aligning with their goal to enhance operational resilience and future adaptability.

Project Outcomes

In just two weeks, the Zillion integration went live as scheduled, allowing Watches of Switzerland to meet crucial business demands without sacrificing quality or functionality. With Bluestonex’s support in setting up SAP Integration Suite, Watches of Switzerland is positioned to continue modernising their technology stack in alignment with their broader strategic vision. This foundational project has equipped them with a flexible, scalable solution that can evolve with their future needs, including a potential transition to SAP S/4HANA.

“This project demonstrates the value of Bluestonex as a strategic partner. Not only did they execute the integration under intense time pressure, but they also became an extension of our team, providing critical expertise. SAP Integration Suite, deployed with Bluestonex’s support, paves the way for greater flexibility and scalability as we move forward with our digital transformation.”
— Glenn Bamford, Head of Business Systems, Watches of Switzerland

Next Steps

After realising the value of SAP Integration Suite, WoS are looking to utilise Bluestonex for further integration projects right across the business.

“We plan to use integration suite to support our future projects as this allows us to integrate our on-prem technologies with our growing cloud-based technologies, via a scalable and supported managed service model with Bluestonex. We will therefore continue to receive the uniquely valuable competitive advantages built in our on-prem systems while gaining new business benefits via better collaborative secure access to data in new ways”

— Glenn Bamford, Head of Business Systems, Watches of Switzerland

These projects to come will further enable WoS to scale IT operations to grow with the business, delivering on strategic objectives that enable them to adapt to changing markets and continue to deliver the best possible customer service.