Question:
Come on people. Nobody here has IS-R???
I'd like to have your comments.
Thanks
_________________
Paulo Domingos
Lisbon,
Portugal
Answer:
Hi
Interesting questions. i work for a SAP consultancy firm specialised in IS-R so I think i'll be able to awnser.
Based on your experience, is this a complicated conversion?
It is quite a move. At this moment we are doing the same at a customer of ours: move from 4.5 to Enterprise AND make a swith to Retail. I think this has been done only 2 times before in the word.
The only moment you can swith from standard SAP to IS-R is during an upgrade. Why do'nt you go to Enterprise as well?? (I see no reason to go to 4.6 at this moment)
The swith itself is not complicated: set the switch and run program SETRETAILSYSTEM. The only thing you have to consider are master data for stores/plants, articles and prices --> there are no standard tools for this so you have to develop then according to your configuration and wishes.
Further you will have to reconfigure some of your processes according to Retail standards, for instance "listing" or "Store replenishment" are retail specific functionalities
You also have to test everything...but you should have done this already due to the upgrade.
- What major problems can we expect during and after the conversion?
See above
- Is it really suited for a retail business (again, based on your experience)?
YES!!! We have implemented IS-R at 4 major consumer electronics retail organisations and it works fine with them. To be honest IS-R was not a good solution in the past but since 4.6 it is a state of the art retail solution. The only thing you should know is that SAP asks quite some master data maintanance....but this of cource depends on your business model and requirements.
- Is it even worthwile thinking of?
Yes, depending on the size of your company and requirements it will be worthwile. I you have less then 15 stores and a have a simple business model the high implementation costs and licence will not be earned back. in other cases you will profit from it.
I hope this awnsers your questions. Good luck,
Frank
Answer:
Hi Frank
Thank you very much for providing me with some light on this subject.
I'd like to note that if it was my decision the project would focus on a Enterprise upgrade + Retail conversion, after some serious analysis to its viability (which i find quite possible). I agree when you say there is no reason to go 4.6, but, nevertheless, its a management decision, so... you guessed
Just so you get an idea regarding the size of the company, we operate some 120 shops (portuguese territory, mainland and islands included) with medium to large surfaces, so we would clearly benefit from IS-R. Therefore, I'm particularly interested in the POS integration. A consultant friend of mine told me IS-R was quite flexible in this matter.
Anyway, thanks once more for your valuable input.
Regards
_________________
Paulo Domingos
Lisbon,
Portugal
Answer:
Hi Paolo,
Thanks for your reply. I wish you all the luck with your project. Unfortunately my company does not have an affiliate in Portugal otherwise I would be nice to assist you overthere.
Regards,
Frank
Answer:
Hi,
I happened to see your correspondence. I too am facing a similar situation. I have a client who is essentially a manufacturing company and had a standard R/3 installation till 4.0B. When they upgraded to 4.6C, they activated the Retail Switch.
The only processes that they have been using in the SAP system related to the Sales Cycle. Hence the decision to switch to the Retail version.
Now, they want to move some activities relating to Manufacturing into the SAP system.
We are looking at the Master Data in the system defined for the Retail - ARTICLES have been defined instead of MATERIALS; the PLANTS have been defined as DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, SITES and STORES in Retail. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW DEFINITION OF STANDARD PLANTS !!! It takes us to the screens for defining the Retail Plants - DC/SITES/STORES and there seems to be no method that would allow us to define Plants as we know it.
I am unable to run MRP for Articles that would set up Planned Orders. If I have defined Materials, I am able to run the MRP and process the same to the logical end - GR into FG stocks.
I need Articles for the Retail functionality.
Would you have any ideas to get me out of this situation?
Would appreciate your help.
Regards.
Devang