SOUTH AFRICA – Pick n Pay Group, South Africa headquartered retailer, has migrated its entire on-premises information technology (IT) infrastructure to Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) owned by Amazon.com and implemented a modern SAP HANA platform.
Moving to the cloud will enable Pick n Pay to streamline its operations and modernize the supply chain network for its stores, develop new digital customer experiences in omnichannel grocery, and expand into new areas of business.
“Leveraging the cloud to achieve greater operational efficiency and improved customer experiences is a game-changing strategy for Pick n Pay and the South African retail sector.
“The cloud will help us stay relevant and accessible in a high-volume, low-margin marketplace that demands efficiency above all else,” said Chris Shortt, Chief Information & Technology Officer at Pick n Pay.
“In addition, the new cloud-based business intelligence platform enables us to make even more data-driven decisions that can help us deliver lower prices and more value to our customers.”
The retailer is using AWS’s unmatched cloud services—including compute, storage, databases, analytics and business intelligence, and AWS Marketplace—to automate its operations, and deliver real-time insights
By analysing data in the cloud, the retailer can forecast demand, identify customer patterns and sentiment, and improve the in-store and online shopping experience for customers.
With AWS, Pick n Pay can dynamically scale its infrastructure resources in line with business demand and peak retail seasons.
The new SAP environment will run on AWS to support the company’s online and physical sales channels, accessing capabilities such as machine learning and analytics, to streamline its supply chain network, forecast inventory, and conduct detailed market analysis to offer the right retail mix of merchandise.
“We are seeing a fundamental change in how consumer goods companies run their technology infrastructures.
“Pick n Pay is the first South African retailer to join the thousands of customers that run SAP on AWS, using AWS’s reliable and scalable global infrastructure and proven SAP experience to provide key insights, drive innovation, and support the creation of new products and services.
“We look forward to working with Pick n Pay on its SAP and digital transformation strategies that will help speed the introduction of new cloud-based customer experiences like its mobile app, tailored shopping, and personalized offers that deepen the consumer relationship,” said Chris Erasmus, Country Manager of South Africa at Amazon Web Services.
The digital migration comes at a time the retailer has introduced a new store format Pick n Pay QualiSave targeting to serve its middle market. This is an addition to its mainline store brand, Pick n Pay and discount brand Boxer.
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