Why NTT DATA and SAP are the dynamic duo of retail

In the high-stakes game of retail, staying ahead of the competition is a nonstop juggling act.

Without a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, it would be nearly impossible to manage inventory, supply chain logistics, customer engagement and omnichannel experiences, all at the same time … and that’s on an “ordinary” day. Let’s not forget seasonal spikes like Black Friday and the festive season, which add pressure to deliver flawless service and meet sky-high demand.

In this fast-moving industry characterized by thin margins, any downtime or system inefficiencies can have immediate and significant consequences, like lost sales and angry customers. But ERP solutions can be hard to maintain, and the last thing you need is for the system to throw a wrench in the works.

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Going it alone is not easy

SAP is a leading provider of ERP solutions. If you’re a large retailer using SAP — or you’re about to upgrade to SAP — it’s likely that you already have an internal IT team to deal with the day-to-day management and upkeep of your ERP system.

That’s all well and good, but without a broader and more objective view of SAP best practices and industry benchmarks, you’ll find it hard to spot opportunities for cost savings and efficiency gains.

Also, what happens when you need to migrate to SAP S4/HANA Cloud but you don’t have the right skills in-house?

This is why you need a partner that provides fast, proactive support to keep your stores open and steps in to assist whenever it’s needed.

What NTT DATA brings to the table

As a global services provider, NTT DATA has a proven track record in a range of industries. We’ve worked with many retailers around the world, from those with complex multinational operations to those with more focused regional strategies, and we bring this expertise to every project we undertake.

Our retail-focused SAP applications team offers a range of services to organizations, including:

1. SAP strategy and architecture

We work closely with you to develop a comprehensive SAP strategy and architecture. This includes roadmapping and business-case development to keep your SAP system aligned with your long-term goals and operational needs.

2. Technical consulting

We also offer technical architecture consulting for both on-premises and cloud environments. These services include sizing, landscape design, optimization, high availability and licensing, tailored to the demands of your business.

3. Greenfields implementation and SAP S/4HANA Cloud migration

Most SAP ERP customers will have to consider migrating to SAP S4/HANA Cloud because SAP is phasing out support for older ERP systems, particularly SAP Enhanced Component Center (ECC), which will reach end of life in 2027. This transition is prompted by SAP’s shift to scalable, secure cloud-based solutions.

Again, this is where the expertise of a managed service provider like NTT DATA is invaluable. We bring to bear the latest breakthroughs in AI, including AI accelerators and AI-friendly data management, and we use AI and automation tools to streamline implementation and migration processes. This reduces the risk of manual errors and speeds up your transition to a cloud-based SAP system.

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4. Application management

After migration, further strategizing and consulting are available through our Application Managed Services .

These services include proactive monitoring and early issue detection, full-time support, continuous improvement and SAP enhancement planning, the rapid rollout of SAP updates and innovations, and integration across channels, payment solutions and digital touchpoints.

We also keep your systems current with the latest features and collaborate with your IT team on your long-term technology roadmap.

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Zooming in on the needs of the retail industry

What does all this mean for retailers in particular?

Our expertise in SAP retail solutions architecture, such as SAP S/4HANA and SAP Customer Activity Repository (CAR), means we know how to keep your systems streamlined and on-point. This includes integration with third-party applications to extend the functionality of your SAP environment, from inventory management to customer relationship management.

We also have extensive knowledge of time- and margin-sensitive retail business processes. Our services are designed to scale your operations optimally when demand is high and reduce costs during quieter times.

Proactive monitoring and early issue detection, powered by advanced analytics and machine learning, allow us to identify potential issues before they become critical.

All this means that your SAP system remains available and responsive, ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction and a stronger operational performance.

Our full-time support is matched to your retail schedules, so you always have an expert on call. This is especially helpful during peak retail periods when you have to manage large data volumes efficiently and maintain system reliability.

And when you’re ready to expand your ecommerce offerings and adopt new technologies like biometric payments and virtual product tryouts, we support omnichannel and online retailing by providing integration across channels, payment solutions and digital touchpoints, all integrated into your SAP system.

We make a difference where it matters

Whether it’s Black Friday, time for a cloud migration or business as usual, we know how to make your SAP ERP system withstand anything you can throw at it.

Let us make your life a little easier and your business a lot stronger with the proactive support, continuous improvement and on-call expertise you need to fully realize the potential of your SAP investment.