Distributed Data Processing 

Purpose

SAP Retail provides interfaces that enable you to implement distributed data processing (DDP). Tasks that are linked logically are distributed among several computers communicating over a network. This enables business operations to be carried out and entered in the system where they occur without any central processing being necessary. The system can then make data available to other computers even if the data is saved elsewhere.

The functions in the SAP system are module-based. This enables you to adapt the system to different organizational structures. Certain areas can be managed completely in the head office, such as invoice verification, while other areas, such as store goods receipts, are handled on-site in the stores. A number of interfaces and reconciliation programs consolidate the data.

SAP Retail also provides interfaces for communication with external systems. Thus, you can therefore send purchase orders electronically to your vendors, for example, or pass on sales figures to market research institutes. Data can also be interchanged with shelf management and shift planning software.

Distributed data processing has the following advantages:

Integration

Retailers make most use of distributed data processing in store-based trading. The following figure shows a typical scenario:

Distributed data processing is relevant in the following areas:

You can use the POS interface functions to link up the POS systems in your stores to the SAP Retail system.

SAP Retail Store is a separate software product that enables you to run SAP Retail functions designed or adapted by SAP for specific use in-store.

The technology described here allows you to distribute the functions contained in the central SAP Retail system among several SAP systems and non-SAP systems.

This interface enables an AFS system to be linked to an SAP Retail system.

 

See also:

Remote Access to SAP Retail