The challenge

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, maintaining a robust online and offline presence is crucial for retail success. Kiabi needed to ensure consistent, secure and efficient connectivity across its expansive international network. This was to realize essential components of its omni-channel strategy, including seamless and secure payment processing, real-time inventory tracking and immediate customer support.

Customer loyalty programs and sales data accessibility also necessitated a dependable network solution. In addition, overcoming the challenge of maintaining seamless connectivity, especially in locations with stringent regulatory environments, such as Hong Kong, was imperative for Kiabi’s international direction.

“Every day, in partnership with GTT, we strive to enhance the quality of our network services. As a result, we’ve experienced fewer network incidents, and optimized international connectivity management. The responsive and dedicated GTT team helped us overcome our global connectivity challenges effectively.”

Aymeric Picart – Network Team Manager at Kiabi

The solution

Kiabi entrusted GTT to manage its connectivity across sites in Europe and Asia-Pacific. GTT’s enhanced connectivity services, such as managed MPLS and DIA, were deployed across an extensive network of over 431 sites, including 400 outlets across France, Italy and Belgium and two pivotal data centers and strategic procurement hubs in Hong Kong, Bangladesh and India. The transformation also involved moving to fiber-based connectivity at all sites. To facilitate speedy deployment of new shop openings, GTT also worked with Kiabi to deliver a mix of 4G and 5G fixed wireless access services.

GTT delivers a managed service, ensuring high-quality, resilient connectivity for Kiabi’s stores, warehouses and logistics centers, enabling a customer-first operation strategy by providing access to business-critical applications anytime, anywhere. With vigilant monitoring of key sites, GTT provides the reliability necessary for Kiabi to meet its vision and deliver exceptional retail experiences to its customers, and to grow business.

The partnership is further supported by GTT Professional Services, including dedicated Project Management, Service Management and Technical Management. This team supports Kiabi with several extended services, including reporting, technical consultancy and best-practice governance arrangements in line with the retailer’s requirements. These services play a crucial role in helping execute day-to-day operations seamlessly, allowing Kiabi to focus on other essential aspects of business.

“At Kiabi, we firmly believe in the power of strategic partnerships,” said Aymeric Picart, Network Team Manager at Kiabi. “Our alliance with GTT exemplifies our commitment to affordability and innovation. We have increased our average bandwidth per store. This enhancement not only provides our customer shops with a better availability of IT tools, but also equips our employees with more efficient working methods, to offer customers a better shopping experience. Through our partnership with GTT, we continue to evolve our omnichannel strategy, ensuring that our customers receive unparalleled value and exceptional services through a fast, reliable and secure network.”

“At Kiabi, we firmly believe in the power of strategic partnerships. Our alliance with GTT exemplifies our commitment to affordability and innovation. We have increased our average bandwidth per store.”

Aymeric Picart – Network Team Manager at Kiabi

The results

Kiabi’s business is supported by a robust connectivity solution from GTT, delivering many benefits.

Enhanced customer experience

Kiabi is increasingly using SaaS solutions, supported by GTT’s high-performance, low-latency global infrastructure, to meet its customers’ expectations for seamless online shopping experiences, swift payment processing and immediate query resolutions. Its unified shopping experiences foster customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Real-time inventory management

Kiabi’s visibility throughout its corporate network has been enhanced by GTT’s network management, facilitated via the EtherVision customer portal. EtherVision offers valuable data and reports, as well as real-time monitoring of individual sites. This helps to minimize any network issues and ensure uninterrupted network operations for Kiabi. Consistent network uptime is crucial for the global retailer to ensure the effective management of its inventory, optimizing omnichannel sales and minimizing losses.

Data security

‘Handling sensitive customer data makes security a top concern for Kiabi. GTT’s secure network protocols, including Level 1 PCI DSS certifications, ensure that customer information is protected, supporting Kiabi’s compliance with data protection regulations.

Operational efficiency

Streamlined operations, from procurement to sales and logistics, are vital for profitability. GTT’s dedicated Professional Services team provides a local touch with a global reach, helping to free up time for Kiabi’s IT team, and supports simplifying processes, reducing operational complexities and enhancing overall efficiency.

Adaptability and global expansion

From production, to sales, to vendors, franchises and employees, Kiabi’s business interactions stretch around the world. GTT’s international expertise in access management and an always-on and secure global tier 1 backbone allow Kiabi to scale and expand into new markets seamlessly, connecting with all of its stakeholders worldwide.

“Within the retail landscape, a robust, secure and adaptable connectivity solution is not merely an investment; it stands as an essential competitive requirement,” said Mr. Picart. “Our network with GTT forms the foundation for customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and future expansion, allowing our business to adeptly maneuver the complexities of the digital era. With GTT’s managed connectivity solution and Professional Services, Kiabi doesn’t just overcome challenges; it empowers us to establish pioneering standards in the retail sector, crafting our customer-centric, digitally agile enterprise.”

“With GTT’s connectivity solution and Professional Services, Kiabi doesn’t just overcome challenges; it empowers us to establish pioneering standards in the retail sector, crafting our customer-centric, digitally agile enterprise.”

Aymeric Picart – Network Team Manager at Kiabi