SAP Retail provides interfaces with which you can achieve distributed data processing (Distributed Data Processing, DDP). Subtasks that logically belong together are distributed to several computers that are connected together by a network. This results in decentralization for operating tasks that can be achieved immediately, and better, without the need for central processing. If necessary, the system can also provide other computers with data that is saved in different places.

The functions in the SAP System are modular. This simplifies any adjustment of the system to different enterprise organizations. You can store individual areas in the central office for example, by decentralized processing of goods receipts in stores, but carrying out invoice verification in the central system. Corresponding interfaces and comparison programs consolidate data.

SAP Retail also provides interfaces for communicating with external systems, for example, for electronically sending purchase orders to vendors and sales data to market research companies, as well as for exchanging data with space management and workforce planning systems.

Distributed data processing has the following advantages:

• Improved performance
• Greater security
• It promotes decentralized company policies, which provides sites with a high degree of autonomy. This allows whole areas of responsibility to be assigned to those organizational units at which information - on customers, vendors or goods movements - is usually gathered.

Retail uses distributed data processing principally in the area of stores. The following illustration shows how distributed retailing systems are typically used:

The following areas are important for distributed data processing: