Supply Chain Management at REWE Group
External Voices
When it comes to advanced software technology to optimize core supply chain management, Bosch Software Innovations is the strategic development partner for REWE Group, Germany’s leading retailer. Our custom-tailored system solutions empower unique processes and provide the doorway to cutting edge IT infrastructure.
Our success in achieving targets is evidenced in the high degree of satisfaction among employees in REWE markets, independent retailers and at headquarters. Completely event-driven process support opens up a great deal of potential all along the value-creation chain, making customers happy to return over and over again:
- Time from need to delivery reduced
- Freshness of merchandise improved
- Merchandise availability increased, out-of-stocks reduced
- Inventory stock in the stores reduced
- Maintenance and operating costs significantly decreased
- Always up-to-date software guaranteed, system-wide
- Process transparency created
Core supply chain management processes are completely aligned with the requirements of the individual retail markets and tailored to each sales area. That means that all sales areas are integrated within the central REWE process chain and custom tailored in each case. All retail markets, headquarters, warehousing, logistics and suppliers too are thoroughly supported, for example in the following processes:
- Online inventory maintenance for each item
- Real-time processing of receipt data
- Automatic material planning over the course of the day
- Inventory while retail markets are open
- Online incoming stock and returns management
- Online shelf placement management
- Master data management
- Retail market bookkeeping
- Logistics process with tracking via electronic delivery slips
- Market listing
- Identification of out-of-stocks
Central and retail market applications are realized directly in Java. All central servers are operated redundantly and are fail-proof. The lean system architecture guarantees the highest levels of performance, scalability and availability. Processing of all information that is developed is event-driven and available at all times.
To ensure that information for and from the retail markets is always current, those markets are connected via Virtual Private Network (VPN) to headquarters and equipped with wireless LAN infrastructure. Mobile data terminals (MDT) are used right at the shelf to ensure the most up-to-date data. All MDT devices, cash register systems and back office PCs are automatically and immediately provided with the most up-to-date software.
About REWE Group
REWE supermarkets are part of the REWE Group, headquartered in Cologne and one of the leading retail and tourist groups in Europe. The REWE Group is number three among European grocery retailers, with group sales of around EUR 50 billion in 2009, more than 320,000 employees and over 15,000 retail markets in Germany and 15 other European countries. In Germany, the independent retailer and the group companies employ more than 211,000 people. Together, they account for total sales of more than EUR 33.95 billion.
