TCOG is a recognized Microsoft ERP supplier and Diamond LS Retail partner, specializing in the fashion, retail, and hospitality sectors. LS Retail’s global presence, combined with TCOG's expertise in local markets - such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg - enables them to deliver solutions that address their customers' unique challenges and requirements. “LS Central is a fully unified solution that offers a single platform for all business processes and customer interactions,” says Eric van der Craats, Sales Manager at TCOG. “LS Central stays ahead with continuous updates and advancements, ensuring innovation while offering long-term stability and continuity.”
TCOG highly values being part of the LS Retail community. "The biggest advantage for us is that LS Retail is a global leader with a presence in more than 150 countries,” says Rembrandt Kuijpers, Managing Partner at TCOG. “This global reach gives us a compelling story to share with our customers, many of whom are international players."
What sets LS Retail apart, according to Rembrandt, is its capability to connect industry-specific functionalities directly to ERP systems, eliminating the need for businesses to use a patchwork of systems to manage their operations, which often creates data silos. This unique selling proposition (USP) enables TCOG to deliver complete, scalable solutions that grow alongside their customers’ businesses. "We typically implement LS Retail solutions for larger retailers or retailers with complex business processes, starting with a minimum of 25 stores and scaling up to several hundred," says Rembrandt.
Building on top of LS Retail solutions
Since joining LS Retail in 2006, TCOG has continuously enhanced its offerings to complement LS Retail software solutions, helping businesses stay competitive in the retail and fashion sectors.
Today, TCOG offers over 20 apps on Microsoft AppSource, covering areas such as logistics, finance, and integrations with local partners, all designed to optimize retail processes and improve customer experiences. For example, TCOG’s Multi Company Centralized Logistics allows companies with multiple entities to manage all intercompany transactions from a single company in Business Central. itSuitsFashion 365, built on Business Central, helps fashion wholesalers streamline their operations and collaborate effectively with suppliers, partners, and customers. By offering seamless integration with LS Central, itSuitsFashion 365 supports both fashion wholesale and retail operations from one Business Central environment hosted in SaaS; it’s used by 80% of TCOG’s fashion clients.
Additionally, TCOG specializes in integrations for local partners, providing web services, third-party logistics integrations, and enhanced functionality for customer loyalty programs.
SaaS and scalability: A formula for success
The shift to Software as a service (SaaS) has been a game changer for TCOG. "Over the last few years, we've seen a significant increase in annual revenue from the retail market, largely driven by the SaaS transition we embraced," says Rembrandt. SaaS solutions enable businesses to scale effortlessly, increase security, and access powerful tools without needing a costly on-premises infrastructure. Rembrandt highlights the ease of setting up production environments for different countries, ensuring TCOG's clients can easily expand globally. “For example, we can create a new environment for a new store in France within 10 minutes,” says Rembrandt. "We’ve been able to attract bigger customers due to our ability to scale quickly while providing local support," adds Eric.
However, one major challenge during SaaS implementations is getting businesses to transition from traditional on-premises systems to cloud-based, standardized software. “It takes a lot of effort to change the customer’s mindset, especially when moving from highly customized on-premises solutions to a SaaS environment where customization is limited,” says Rembrandt. TCOG addresses this by focusing on change management, guiding businesses through the transition and helping them adapt to standardized processes while still meeting their unique needs. “It's about guiding the customer through the transition, ensuring that they understand the benefits of using out-of-the-box solutions that are already optimized for retail processes,” adds Eric.
Relying on a strong partner network
TCOG's success is reinforced by their collaboration with other LS Retail partners. "We can rely on a strong partner network, especially in countries where local support is essential for fiscal compliance and opening new stores," says Rembrandt. This teamwork ensures that TCOG’s international customers receive the highest level of service, no matter where they operate.
Looking ahead, TCOG will continue to focus on sub-verticals within the retail sector, such as fashion but also gardening centers and duty-free stores. “There’s still work to do in micro-verticalization,” says Rembrandt, “but we have a solid foundation, especially as LS Retail continues to add features for specific industries to their solutions.”
