SAP S/4 Retail implementation in central retail operations at dennree Group
With consenso as its implementation partner and SAP HEC as its service provider, dennree Group reached a major milestone in its SAP S/4 Retail implementation for central retail operations at the end of September 2021: More than 340 Denns BioMarkt stores went live with the SAP solution, and the first key non-SAP systems were also integrated.
The project marked dennree Group’s first implementation of SAP and followed a greenfield approach.
Full integration of SAP S/4 into dennree’s system landscape was planned for May 2022, alongside the decommissioning of the legacy Microsoft Navision system.
A four-month rollout, significantly improved master data quality and new functionalities for the stores were key features of the SAP S/4 Retail implementation at dennree Group.
Four-month rollout and migration
During the four-month rollout, the stores were migrated region by region. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the migration and rollout of the SAP-based retail solution proceeded smoothly. Prior to the migration, it became clear that extensive data cleansing was required, resulting in significantly improved master data quality in the SAP system.
SAP components and integration of non-SAP systems
The SAP implementation includes the components SAP S/4 Retail, SAP CAR, SAP PMR, SAP PO and SAP Solution Manager. A key focus was the integration of numerous non-SAP systems at dennree. The dennree SAP Competence Centre, together with other dennree IT colleagues responsible for the non-SAP systems, ensures the ongoing development and operation of the SAP solution.
New functionalities for the stores
The SAP solution introduced new functionalities for the stores, including the SAP allocation table (automatically calculating quantities to be distributed based on stock levels, stock coverage or sales), automatic invoice verification, the introduction of perpetual inventory counting and the use of SAP PMR (forecasting and generating proposed quantities as part of promotion planning). Further process optimisations are being prepared.
Jointly developed enhancements to SAP standard functionality
In addition, dennree and consenso worked together to design solutions that extend SAP standard functionality. Examples include an ordering and delivery schedule tailored to dennree’s requirements and a fruit & vegetable cockpit designed to support the specific demands of a highly fast-paced business.
About dennree Group
dennree Group is the leading organic food specialist retailer and wholesaler in German-speaking countries, headquartered in Töpen, Upper Franconia. Founded in 1974, the group includes the organic retail chain Denns BioMarkt, which operates more than 340 stores across Germany and Austria. Around 7,400 employees contribute to the group’s success.
As a marketplace for producers, retailers and customers, dennree offers an extensive range of more than 14,000 organic products, all sourced from certified organic farming. Through its own nationwide logistics network, the company supplies around 1,200 organic food stores in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and South Tyrol. These include members of the BioMarkt network, an association of around 500 independent organic food stores and Denns BioMarkt stores in Germany and Austria operating under the shared umbrella brand “BioMarkt”.
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Published on 25 February 2022 | Fotos: dennree GmbH, Töpen