Watches of Switzerland Group thinks about the future as it teams with SAP on digital transformation

Luxury retailer Watches of Switzerland Group has chosen the SAP Business Technology Platform to support its digital transformation, via a long standing partnership with SAP AppHaus Network partner Bluestonex.

Watches of Switzerland Group has also set up SAP Integration Suite, enabling the company to incorporate insurance offers in its processes. 

The retailer was previously relying on legacy systems such as on-premise systems and middleware built in-house, which made it difficult to scale the business in response to demand for faster project delivery and modern integrations.

Watches of Switzerland has now partnered with SAP specialist Bluestonex to transition to a partner-managed cloud model - SAP BTP.

BluestoneX has taken on responsibility for managing SAP BTP credits, resource allocation, and infrastructure support. This will allow Watches of Switzerland Group to move away from internal self-managed options. 

Since the transition, the retailer has reported benefits including improved user experience, and increased efficiency in customer teams. It also says the system will support future growth and innovation.

“The partnership with Bluestonex is not just about technology,” says Glenn Bamford, Head of Business Systems at Watches of Switzerland Group. “They act as an extension of our team, bringing innovation and expertise that we lack internally. With their support, we’ve been able to make strategic moves towards modernising our systems while remaining agile for the future.”

“This project demonstrates the value of Bluestonex as a strategic partner,” Bamford adds. “Not only did they execute the integration under intense time pressure, but they also provided 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.”

Last year, Watches of Switzerland Group partnered with embedded insurance provider Zillion, giving its clients instant coverage for their watch and jewellery purchases on mobile, and without applications, appraisals or app downloads.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Digital transformation will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.