Shortcomings of SAP Retail for Apparel and Footwear Companies - Introduction

Well, it's been quite a while since my last post. I have to start by saying that I decided to put off my certifications efforts in SAP Retail due to lack of time, but mainly due to the new insights I gained as SAP AFS (Apparel and Footwear Solution) Consultant in my last projects. During the last few years I worked in several full life cycle SAP AFS implementations projects which gave me a new understanding about how SAP really fulfill the requirements of Apparel and Footwear companies. This in turn discouraged my to pursue a SAP Retail certification.

Follows some facts:

- So far I have worked in 3 SAP AFS implementation projects.
- Average implementation time for each: 2 years.
- All vertical companies: produce the own brand and sell it through own stores to end customer.
- In only one of these companies was SAP Retail + SAP AFS implemented. In the other two only SAP AFS was implemented.
- This only company is now removing SAP Retail after 5 years of operation and implementing store stock management in SAP AFS and building interface to third party POS system.
- The other two companies kept the legacy retail/POS software and integrated it with SAP AFS via interfaces.

So what's the reason for these companies deciding not to implement SAP Retail together with SAP AFS or even removing SAP Retail after a few years of usage? I will try to elaborate on this in my following posts. Stay tuned!.