E-COMMERCE

Lacoste Heads to China With Accenture and Demandware

When Lacoste decided to launch e-commerce in China, the international brand enlisted the help of two technology companies, Burlington, Mass.–based Demandware Inc. and New York–based Accenture.

Accenture designed and built Lacoste’s online store with Demandware’s digital commerce software. Accenture will manage Lacoste’s online business in China, including providing tech support, customer services, logistics payment services and social-media networks.

“China presents brands with an enormous opportunity, but it is a unique environment that requires a unique approach,” said Eric Mestre, managing director in Accenture’s consumer goods and services practice, in a statement. “Brands must overcome legal and cultural challenges that many will not have encountered in other markets. The successful navigation of Chinese social and regulatory hurdles, while still providing a quality experience to Chinese consumers online, requires brands to adopt a tailor-made approach as Lacoste is doing with Accenture and Demandware.”

Accenture’s Multichannel Commerce Solution for China is an end-to-end solution that enables retailers to launch a customized online store with support provided for the back-end business functions. Accenture and Demandware plan to release a version of the solution for theASEAN and European markets, as well.

“Our newly forged relationship with Accenture further validates that our cloud platform is the best alternative for large, rapidly growing retailers looking to expand their digital commerce businesses globally,” said Tom Ebling, chief operating officer of Demandware, in a statement. “By leveraging the power of Demandware Commerce, Accenture’s clients can rapidly and confidently execute their omnichannel digital commerce strategies around the world.”

For more information, visit www.accenture.com or www.demandware.com