Fashion retailer transforms communication and cuts paper usage by 90%

Regional offices had to manually translate the documents and try to filter out irrelevant information for their specific countries. This edited PDF was then sent to hundreds of stores, where it was often printed automatically. A typical local store might receive a 50-page bundle, even if only 10 of those pages were relevant to its size and layout.

This left store staff to sift through the paper documents by hand to find their tasks, walk the floor to check stock, and then implement the changes. The system was slow, generated a huge amount of paper waste, and gave headquarters no easy way to track if the work was actually done. They needed a smarter, more scalable, and more sustainable way to work.

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The solution: a modern platform with an AI-powered engine

Numble's experts began by building an initial solution for the Benelux and France region, developed after just a few workshops. Once the management team saw its potential, they decided to expand it into a fully scalable platform for the entire continent. 

The new system consists of a single, centralised portal where a small team at the central HQ can create and manage content for all 1,800 stores. The platform’s custom logic automatically filters and distributes the correct tasks and information to each specific store, based on its size, layout, and country.

The biggest efficiency gain, however, came from integrating a smart AI model. Instead of relying on manual translations, an OpenAI model trained on the brand’s specific business language now handles the translation of all communications into 14 different languages automatically.

Finally, the entire workflow was moved to iPads and Android tablets. Store staff now receive only the tasks relevant to them, and they can provide direct feedback by taking a photo of the completed work and sending it back to HQ for validation. All of this happens within a secure, closed system.

The result: less paper, more interesting work

As far as results go, the clearest win for the retailer was the virtual elimination of paper from the store communication process, cutting consumption by an estimated 90%. But the impact on their daily operations was just as significant.

• Manual translations and filtering that used to take days are now done in minutes.
• Content from the HQ appears almost instantly on the right devices in 1,800 stores.
• Regional staff are no longer tied up with manual translations and can spend their time on quality control and validation in the stores. 
• Store staff get pre-filtered, relevant tasks instead of having to sift through stacks of paper.
• A custom dashboard gives the European HQ a live overview, allowing them to spot and solve logistical issues quickly.
• The automated system has drastically reduced human errors, leading to more consistent store displays across Europe.

As you can see, this project is a great example of what we believe at Cronos ESG: smart sustainability is about more than just saving resources like paper. With the right partner, you can also fundamentally change how your organisation works.