Spendesk provides real control over invoice flows and visibility for all teams – unlike traditional finance tools.

Key results with Spendesk

• Eliminated email chaos: No more endless chains asking about invoice status.

• Complete invoice visibility: All teams can access invoices and payment status instantly.

• Secured approval workflows: Controlled spending across 23 store locations.

• Self-service onboarding: An intuitive platform that non-finance teams adopt without training.

• Multi-location control: Managing spend across France, the UK and Belgium seamlessly.

• Process automation: From invoice receipt to accounting transfer without manual intervention.

• Team empowerment: Store managers control their own spending within set limits.

About YSE

YSE is a French lingerie and ready-to-wear brand founded in 2012 by Clara Blackman. Originally created for smaller bust sizes with a focus on subtle, transparent designs without padding, YSE has since expanded its size range while maintaining its distinctive aesthetic. Operating with a 100% female team of 150 employees, YSE combines digital-first growth with physical retail, now operating 21 stores across Paris and French regions, plus locations in London and Brussels. The brand's approach centres on celebrating the female form with sensitivity and authenticity.

The challenges

Before Spendesk, YSE faced significant inefficiencies in managing invoices and spend across its growing retail network.

Core issues:

• All invoices received by email with no centralised system.

• Validation and approval processes conducted entirely via email.

• Zero visibility for teams on which invoices were received or paid.

• Constant interruptions with questions about invoice status.

• Time-consuming email exchanges about payment tracking.

• Manual data entry into accounting tools.

• No standardised process across multiple store locations.

• Lack of spending control as retail footprint expanded.

The solution

YSE expanded Spendesk from basic store manager cards to comprehensive spend management, driven by Virginie Scarpi, who had successfully used the platform previously.

Key features implemented:

• Physical cards for store managers with spending limits and controls.

• Invoice management from receipt through to accounting transfer.

• Automated approval workflows eliminating email-based processes.

• Cost centre visibility allowing teams to track their own spending.

• Accounting integration for seamless data transfer.

• Multi-location deployment across France, the UK and Belgium.

• Team-based access controls with appropriate permissions.

From email chaos to centralised control

The transformation began when Virginie Scarpi joined YSE as CFO in 2023, bringing experience from successfully implementing Spendesk at her previous company. She recognised that while YSE used Spendesk for store manager cards, the platform's full potential remained untapped.

In 2024, YSE deployed complete invoice management through Spendesk. The change was immediate and dramatic. Instead of invoices arriving by email, scattered across inboxes with no tracking, everything is centralised in one platform. Teams could finally see which invoices had been received, track approval status and confirm payments without sending a single chase email.

The platform's intuitive design meant teams trained new hires themselves without finance involvement. Store managers and department heads gained independence with appropriate controls, while finance maintained complete oversight.

The results

Since expanding Spendesk deployment, YSE has transformed how it manages spend across its retail network:

• Eliminated email chaos: No more time-wasting invoice status queries.

• Complete invoice visibility: All teams can track invoices and payments instantly.

• Secured workflows: Controlled spending across 23 international locations.

• Massive time savings: Finance team no longer answers repetitive questions.

• Self-service onboarding: Teams train new staff themselves with minimal finance input.

• Process automation: Invoice-to-accounting flow fully automated.

• Multi-country operations: Seamlessly managing France, the UK and Belgium.

• Improved relationships: Finance team focuses on value-add work, not admin queries.

Ready to eliminate invoice chaos?

Discover how Spendesk can help your retail business gain spend visibility, automate workflows and empower teams across multiple locations. Talk to an expert today.