Retail
Retail digital transformation
Retailers face new challenges in the way goods are marketed, bought, fulfilled, delivered, and sold in a highly competitive marketplace, but emerging technology innovations are ushering in new opportunities as well. Retailers can leverage technologies, such as cloud, AI, robotics, IoT, and VR/AR, to provide the shopping experiences that delight customers.
Omnichannel retail: commerce everywhere
From in-store digital displays to online marketplaces and pop-up stores, today’s omnichannel retail eliminates the lines between channels. To compete and thrive, retailers must provide seamless shopping experiences that exceed customer expectations.
Customer convenience
Curbside pickup, “buy online pick up in store” (BOPIS), “scan and go,” and “just walk out” options are here to stay, allowing customers to shop and collect goods conveniently. Micro fulfilment centres and partnerships with last-mile companies, such as Uber and Lyft, offer additional customer-pleasing options – all made possible through smart technologies.
Marketing personalisation
Understanding changing trends and unique customer preferences is key to the success of every retail business. Powerful retail analytics can shed light on customers’ current and future needs, helping retailers shape their offerings. Personalised marketing and experiences – based on consent and trust – build customer loyalty and, ultimately, profitability.
Sustainable shopping
Today’s consumers want to purchase from companies that demonstrate sustainable business behaviour. Fortunately, sustainable business is good business and circular economy principles and zero waste through better planning can make a real difference to the bottom line. Advanced technologies are essential to provide the transparency that is required.
Be inspired by Retail's BIG show
Share experiences of NRF 2023 and learn how cloud tech is transforming retail.
See how customers are succeeding with retail solutions from SAP
See how Carrefour Belgium created a consistent and efficient shopping experience with cloud solutions from SAP.
See how electronics retailer Imagine Marketing supported business expansion with robust, digitalised, and automated processes.
Hear how Maui Jim is using our retail e-commerce platform to provide seamless buying experiences on any device.
Discover how Virgin Megastore blends the fun of in-store shopping and the convenience of shopping online.
What are the leading analysts saying about innovation in retail?
Build customer loyalty with sustainability
Innovative retailers are putting sustainability at the centre of their business models. Consumers are noticing and returning the favor with increased loyalty.
Exceed expectations with hybrid experiences
Find out how you can transform your traditional models to give customers what they want before they realise they want it.
Create a future with sustainability at your core
Sustainability must be more than a corporate responsibility initiative. Include sustainability at the core of enterprise transformation for success tomorrow.
Deliver omnichannel marketing campaigns that convert browsers into buyers – and provide exceptional experiences in stores, online, and on mobile devices. Our retail marketing and CX solutions can help you gain a real-time view of each customer and provide personalised, consent-based engagements at scale. Build relationships, increase loyalty, and drive profitability.
73% of retail organisations consider it important to deliver fun, relevant, and convenient customer experiences tailored to each customer’s sentiment, history, and preferences. Only 10% are able to do so.
With SAP Integration Suite, we were able to integrate our new customer loyalty management solution from SAP quickly and easily and fulfil the needs of our most valuable customers. We gained insight and flexibility to support a quick innovation for ever-better shopping experiences and to distinguish ourself in the market.
Andreas Zimmer, Lead Developer SAP BTP, Globus SB-Warenhaus Holding GmbH & Co. KG
Put the customer at the centre of all your merchandising decisions – and increase conversion rates – with our retail merchandise management software. Anticipate customer and market trends accurately, optimise pricing and promotions, and improve all aspects of your day-to-day merchandise operations – from purchasing and allocation to performance.
79% of retail organisations consider it important to quickly and efficiently change assortments and adapt pricing across channels based on current trends and customer insights – but only 27% are able to do so.
Source: SAP Performance Benchmarking
With a granular view of purchasing behaviour and activity, we can now offer customers the right product at the right time at the right store.
Michael Coatsworth, Domain Architect, Foodstuffs North Island Limited
Ensure your retail sourcing and procurement teams are fast, agile, and exceptionally well-informed – with SAP software. Our solutions can help you efficiently source ethical and sustainable products, control risk and costs, and collaborate with a global network of suppliers. Drive brand differentiation with innovative and private-label sourcing and use AI-powered analytics to improve contract negotiations, optimise orders, and save money.
72% of retail organisations consider it important to have holistic visibility into spend categories across all lines of business and geographies of their retail operations – but only 29% are able to do so.
Source: SAP Performance Benchmarking
Partnering with SAP on our transformation journey, we’re making procurement simpler for stores with the rollout of SAP Ariba solutions as our single platform for the procurement of all non-trade goods.
Phillip McDonald, GM, Group Procurement, Woolworths Group Limited
Get the right products to stores and customers at just the right time with our retail supply chain management solutions. From the first mile to the last, our software can help you create efficient, customer-driven, and transparent supply chain networks. Collaborate with partners and suppliers, reduce waste and emissions, and fulfil demand from anywhere – instantly and at optimum costs.
70% of retailers consider it important to have visibility into the global inventory pool and optimise it for a “source anywhere, fulfil anywhere” model – but only 15% are able to do so.
Source: SAP Performance Benchmarking
Thanks to SAP Extended Warehouse Management, we have improved the efficiency with which we can manage deliveries, enabling us to offer better value to our customers.
Nicolai Gradman, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Logistics,Salling Group A/S
Meet evolving shopper expectations at brick-and-mortar stores and online – and provide customers with frictionless, consistent experiences across channels – with our software for omnichannel retail and store operations. Equip store associates with real-time customer and inventory data, offer mobile POS and self-checkout, support smart store technologies, and create engaging digital storefronts and e-commerce experiences.
74% of retailers consider it important to equip store associates with real-time product and inventory information to help them serve shoppers better – but only 30% are able to do so.
Source: SAP Performance Benchmarking
Thanks to the innovation and dedication of SAP and its partners, we can now offer customers a more pleasurable and convenient shopping experience that suits their schedules – day or night.
Dirk Muehlhaeuser, Head of Retail IT, Valora Group
Get started with SAP's cloud solutions for retail
SAP can help you start or enhance your retail digital transformation – no matter where you are in your journey. If you have yet to move to cloud ERP, you can get started with RISE with SAP for Retail. If you already have cloud ERP – from SAP or any other vendor – you can enhance your retail capabilities with our industry cloud solutions.
RISE with SAP
Achieve greater speed, agility, integration, and extensibility with RISE with SAP, a comprehensive solution made up of key products, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud; industry next practices; business process intelligence; and services from SAP and our partners. RISE with SAP also includes solutions for:
Industry cloud solutions for retail
Built by SAP and our partners on an open platform, SAP’s industry cloud solutions address specific industry needs for the retail sector. Designed to work with your existing SAP and third-party systems, these specialised cloud applications can help you drive cost-effective transformation and sustainable growth.
Featured cloud solutions for retail
SAP Intelligent Returns Management
Offer a seamless, transparent product returns process with AI-assisted routing, dispositioning, and analytics while maximising margins on returns and reducing carbon emissions.
SAP Commerce Cloud
Create engaging digital storefronts for any device and use AI to deliver hyper-personalised e-commerce experiences, recommendations, and promotions that maximise conversions.
SAP S/4HANA Retail for merchandise management
Transform core processes with Intelligent ERP for the retail industry. Improve in-store operations with real-time insights, drive customer-centric merchandising, and optimise your supply chain.
Explore your retail resource centre
Address the challenges and opportunities in the new world of retail.
Explore how our current and upcoming innovations help retailers.
Learn how SAP solutions are changing the future of retail through smart stores powered by intuitive technology like AI and IoT.
Try and buy leading partner solutions and SAP software for the retail industry and explore digital store promotions in SAP Store.
Discover how retailers can enable hybrid experiences and accelerate innovation in this IDC webinar.
Explore solutions from SAP partners that help retailers achieve sustainable supply chain, food sourcing, and e-commerce operations.