Regatta Group boosts digital transformation with Nexer support deal

The Regatta Group, a multinational conglomerate of outdoor and workwear clothing brands, has extended its digital transformation journey by signing an ongoing support agreement with Nexer Enterprise Applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365. This move follows a five-year, multimillion-pound project that significantly updated the Group's business operations across 16 countries.

Brands within The Regatta Group include Regatta, Dare2b, Craghoppers, and Regatta Professional. After major investment in its distribution centre and head office infrastructure, the Group chose to enhance its IT systems as part of a comprehensive plan for future growth. Nexer was brought in to execute a full-scale overhaul of IT functions, incorporating Microsoft Dynamics 365 enterprise resource planning (ERP) and Business Intelligence systems. The tech firm also ensured a smooth transition during the cloud-to-cloud migration and alignment with Microsoft's integrated software ecosystem.

The final stage of the implementation phase concluded in June 2023, with Nexer continuing to provide initial post-live support. Recognising the value of this partnership, The Regatta Group has now elected to move to the Care365 service offered by Nexer on a persistent basis. Care365 and Nexer prioritise personalisation and customer-first approach in delivering Microsoft Dynamics 365 post-live support, maintenance, and optimisation, thus enabling clients to adapt to operational changes and exploit new features for optimal business benefits.

"Implementing new Microsoft systems was a long-term, collaborative effort between Regatta colleagues and the Nexer team," said Colin Crow, managing director at Nexer Enterprise Applications. "Implementing the right new systems is a really important first step, but what a business does with this technology post-live can make all the difference to its effectiveness. Through our Care365 package, we go beyond troubleshooting to make recommendations on the upgrades and new features which could help meet customers' unique goals."

Former Group IT Director at The Regatta Group Chris Bulmer, now Consultant Director (AI and Automation), also applauded the strategic partnership with Nexer. He highlighted, "Implementing Microsoft solutions have enabled us to consolidate our international operations, access more detailed reporting, and work smarter. Going forward, we want to continue leveraging the insights of our new systems and get the most out of our investment, so it was an easy decision for us to continue our relationship with Nexer in this new format."

Indeed, the transition to Care365 from Nexer was launched in November 2023, coinciding with the crucial trading period often referred to as a 'golden quarter' in the retail world. According to Bulmer, the transition was seamless and having access to 24/7 call-out meant they could raise and resolve tickets quickly, limiting disruption during this vital period.