Q4 2020, 20 new dealers in the Nauticoncept stable

"Of course we've believed in it from the start. But to think that today more than 150 dealers and charter boats in France are our customers, and to realize that we have customers in Switzerland, Italy, Malta and Spain, enables us to measure how far we've come since our projects were first conceived in 2016, in the hangar of our partner and co-founder, Joseph Mitton."

Romuald poirot

With these words, Romuald Poirot, co-founder of Nauticoncept, looks back on a very special year 2020, rich in new developments and innovations.

Romuald, tell us about 2020?

It's been an extraordinary year! Extraordinary in every way. It began auspiciously, with a fund-raising of over 1 million euros, which was to enable us to accelerate our growth and develop new markets. And then there was Covid... Boatyards halted, the economy at a standstill, vacations hanging on political decisions: anguish.

It was an anxious time for us, but also for all the professionals in the marine industry and for many start-ups. On the positive side, our solutions for digitalizing the boating industry met many of the challenges. But the question persisted: would the 2020 season take place? We had to listen to our customers, reassure them and innovate.

How can you reassure your customers in such an anxiety-inducing environment?

To help our customers, dealers and rental companies, we have made available a free, lighter version of Nautifleet, which makes it very easy to adapt to the health standards required by the public authorities. The profession has been able to see the benefits they can derive from the implementation of simple digital solutions designed for them, by a team that really understands the constraints of the boating industry.

Tell us about the 2020 innovations?

The major innovation this year is the Liberty Pass, an innovation in usage. All the building blocks had already been developed, so all we had to do was fit them together and listen to the market to create an offer that would appeal to dealers, charters and private customers alike. Simply put, Liberty Pass is the revolution of the boat club, boat club version 3.0.

The boat club concept is exploding in the USA, but stagnating in France. Why did this happen? We listened to the market and surveyed our 150 partners. The results are clear: too restrictive, a model that's not easy to understand, not adapted to different sailing programs, obligations to buy boats... In short, the French-style boat club is not catching on, and won't if we don't adapt it to the constraints of the French ecosystem.

Our digital solutions have enabled us to recreate a virtuous model, for customers and dealers alike. Three key words have guided our approach: autonomy, flexibility and no initial investment. In short, with Liberty Pass, every dealer can create his own boat club in his own colors, without being tied to any one manufacturer or brand - he's free!

Free to exploit its brand, free to create its own rules, free to adapt to the constraints of its territory (you don't sail on the Opal Coast like you do in Cannes), free to expand its clientele, free to create new revenues...

Other innovations?

Oui Caretaker, the connected concierge service, which enables dealers to keep better track of their winter boatyards, and customers to ensure that their boat will be up and running on the first day of their vacation. The relationship between customer and dealer is optimized and pacified. For a dealer, choosing Caretaker means offering a new customer experience and building customer loyalty.

What are your plans and prospects for 2021?

In the fourth quarter, we signed 20 new partnerships. This proves that the world of boating is going digital, and moving forward. The question is no longer whether or not the boating world should go digital. But when and how? Our ambition is to further expand our network, and reach 300 partners by 2021, 40 of whom will be international.

Of our 20 new partners, 4 have already opted for Liberty Pass. This proves our sector's appetite for generating new revenues. This is normal, and healthy. Add to this the fact that this year, many shipyards will be struggling to deliver boats due to delays caused by the first lockdown, which literally paralyzed shipyards. Our aim is to help dealers maintain a healthy level of activity in 2021, to take advantage of the recovery so eagerly awaited by all.

You are a yachting professional. You want to improve your processes and increase your sales. If you're an individual who simply wants to maximize the pleasures of the sea, don't hesitate to contact us. Our consultants will be delighted to give you a demo of our online solutions and applications.

Nauticoncept

Nauticoncept adapts to your organization to streamline your processes, manage your boat fleets, digitize your business, and offer quality service to you, our customers, owners and users. Are you a dealer or charterer? Nauticoncept brings you the solution you need to test!