Speaking to Elite Business, Chief Operating Officer Wioletta Bogus explained how Oracle NetSuite has helped the luxury footwear brand unify operations, streamline workflows and support global growth through a more connected, data-driven approach.
Creating a single source of truth
Before implementing NetSuite, Manolo Blahnik relied on multiple systems across finance, logistics and fulfilment. While each process worked independently, the lack of integration created inefficiencies across the wider business.
“We had multiple systems which were doing quite well in the right places,” Bogus explained. “But to know where our goods were, we had to check one system, then another, and sometimes even a third. It was time-consuming and inefficient.”
By bringing operations into a single system, NetSuite gave the business greater visibility across inventory, orders and financial data in real time.
“When we take an order from a customer, place manufacturing purchase orders, manage stock and fulfil orders, all of that now happens in the same system,” Bogus said. “We can follow the movement of goods and see the financial transactions reflected immediately.”
Going live on NetSuite helped create a more streamlined operational model as the business expanded internationally.
Tailoring technology to luxury retail
For Manolo Blahnik, however, implementing a new system came with unique challenges. Unlike traditional retail businesses, the company operates on a made-to-order model, requiring tailored workflows and customisations.
“We don’t operate a typical pick-and-pack model,” Bogus explained. “We make to order, so we had to design specific customisations to make the system work for us.”
Seasonality and fashion collection timelines also needed to be accurately reflected within the system, but Bogus said maintaining strong structure and executive sponsorship throughout the rollout was critical to the project’s success.
“It needs to start with executive sponsors,” she said. “This is not a systems project. It’s a company project. It changes the way the company operates.”
AI with purpose
Alongside operational transformation, Manolo Blahnik is also taking a measured approach to AI adoption. Rather than implementing AI to follow industry trends, the business is focused on practical use cases that improve efficiency and support operational goals.
The company prioritises education before implementation, ensuring leadership teams understand the technology and its potential impact. “We educated ourselves first,” she said. “Several of us, including myself, completed an AI course at the University of Oxford. We wanted to understand the principles properly and cut through the noise.”
That approach has helped shape a more targeted AI strategy based on efficiency and business outcomes rather than experimentation alone. “Some companies ask, ‘Do we need AI?’ and adopt it for the sake of it,” Bogus said. “But for us, it’s about using it as a tool – something that serves the business and improves efficiency, not something just to keep up.”
Growth built on visibility
Looking ahead, NetSuite continues to play a central role in supporting Manolo Blahnik’s international expansion strategy. “Software is a tool, an operational enabler,” Bogus said. “But what NetSuite gives us is visibility. And when you have visibility, you can make better decisions.”
As the business expands into new territories, its global capabilities have also become increasingly important. “As we expand into new territories, it’s important to keep everything in one system,” Bogus said. “NetSuite allows us to operate across different countries while maintaining control and consistency.”
For Manolo Blahnik, implementing NetSuite has gone far beyond improving day-to-day operations. By unifying systems, increasing visibility and embedding data into decision-making, the company has built a stronger foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
