Over the years, Fanatics has established strong partnerships with major leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and UEFA. Fanatics sells their products through eCommerce, physical stores, and collaborations with teams and brands.
Business case
Fanatics Italy wanted to enhance the retail experience across its 30 stores, including those of top Italian football and basketball clubs, as well as international leagues and brands. A key challenge was managing the surge in sales during major sporting events, which put significant pressure on existing systems. To overcome this, Fanatics Italy sought a reliable, scalable technology solution capable of supporting seamless operations during peak times while delivering an enhanced customer experience.
Solution
Fanatics Italy partnered with local LS Retail partner Cluster Reply to implement LS Central SaaS and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. With LS Central, retailers can manage their Point of Sale (POS), inventory, customer data, eCommerce, and back-office operations all within a single unified platform.
Cluster Reply kicked off the implementation with a deep-dive needs analysis, then customized the system to meet Fanatics' unique requirements. These included:
- Custom jersey printing to meet customer demand
- Label printing for personalized products
- Mobile POS to speed up checkout during high-traffic events
The teams rolled out the project in multiple phases over six months, ensuring smooth execution at every step. From analysis and system design to integration, staff training, and final deployment, each stage was tightly managed.
Benefits
The implementation of LS Central gave Fanatics Italy the stability and performance it needed during high-pressure events, and delivered clear, measurable gains:
- Faster transactions and reduced wait times, even during peak hours. Mobile POS systems were deployed across all stores, enabling staff to process sales quickly and reduce long queues during match days and major events.
- Real-time inventory control. With centralized inventory management, staff can view stock levels instantly across all 30 stores. This improved replenishment decisions, avoided stockouts of popular items, and reduced overstocking.
- Personalized customer service: Integrated jersey and label printing allow stores to offer on-the-spot customization. Customers can personalize their purchases in minutes, increasing satisfaction and boosting the average transaction value.
- Regulatory compliance. Full integration with certified fiscal printers ensures every transaction meets Italian tax regulations, reducing the risk of errors and simplifying reporting.
- Scalability and flexibility. Running on SaaS, LS Central enables Fanatics Italy to access real-time data across locations, benefit from automatic updates, all while supporting their expansion by quickly onboarding new stores.
By implementing LS Central, Fanatics Italy can now confidently manage peak demand, deliver a more engaging in-store experience, and streamline daily operations.
