Integration of point of sale systems and related data

Implementing SAP Retail or SAP Point of Sale (POS) Data Management Package poses many challenges with regards to required adjustments of existing IT infrastructures. The impact on as well as the interdependencies with POS systems and solutions that are already implemented must also be taken into consideration.

THE key success factor of such projects is the design of the connection between the POS and SAP Retail. Both, the development of the POS interface as well as the development of the POS application need to be synchronized, as our experience shows that discrepancies between these two elements is the main cause of delays and problems in most cases. cimt AG has a broad experience in successfully managing international projects under such critical circumstances. This experience led to an implementation procedure which has proved to be successful.

The key aspects of this procedure, connecting POS systems to SAP Retail, are:

 

Connecting the point of sale

• Designing the required infrastructure supporting an adequate hardware and software connection as well as communication of the POS.
• Realizing and setting up the designed infrastructure ensuring safe communication with the POS.
• Implementing security measures for identification and secure access from and to the POS - inside the corporate network or outside, within a firewall system or across several firewalls.

 

Designing the functionality provided at the POS

• Designing and specifying the required POS functionality directly at the POS.
• Defining the specific processes for SAP Retail and deriving the requirements on POS functionality.
• Designing and specifying the POS interfaces required for data exchange with SAP Retail.
• Preparing mapping tables for different data elements. 

 

Testing to approve POS functionality and SAP Retail interfaces

• Testing the functions automatically - if required also in connection with external applications.
• Automatic load and performance testing.
• Analyzing the results of mass testing.
• Identifying opportunities to optimize hardware and software configurations.

 

Integrating the POS systems in existing IT architecture

• Designing and specifying the required scope of functions of the required middleware.
• Designing the middleware infrastructure.
• Supporting the evaluation and selection of adequate middleware.
• Realizing and configuring the connection based on the selected middleware.

 

SAP Retail interface to the POS

• Designing and implementing all relevant customized settings for the POS interface.
• Designing and realizing all system enhancements required by the POS within customer specific solutions.
• Conceiving and implementing all reporting functions required from R/3.

 

Project management for the integration of the POS systems

• Planning costs and schedules.
• Staffing and managing teams.
• Project controlling with regards to progress tracking and budget management.
• Monitoring all activities and tasks.

 

cimt ag can rely on many experiences from international projects, where we took over responsibility at different project levels. A very important factor for the success of these projects was that the cooperation between the customers' employees and our consultants was based on partnership. If you would like to receive further information or details about other reference projects, please contact Ralf Winter.