The role of SAP in supporting the retail industry through pandemic-induced (COVID-19) challenges

Chetan Sharma 1, * and Adarsh Vaid 2

1 Tractor Supply Company, 5401 Virginia Way, Brentwood, TN, USA.
2 American National Insurance Company, One Moody Plaza, Galveston, TX, USA.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2020, 01(01), 096–109.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2020.1.1.0022
Publication history: 
Received on 26 September 2020; revised on 19 November 2020; accepted on 23 November 2020
 
Abstract: 
The COVID-19 pandemic posed different challenges to the retail industry of the world at varying levels, such as disruption of the supply chain, change in consumer behaviour, and shift toward digital interfaces such as e-commerce. Under such circumstances, this study has highlighted how retailers have benefited from SAP solutions to meet their needs during such unprecedented times by utilizing SAP's entire ERP tool kit to enhance the supply chain through resilience, managing employees and enhancing customer relations. Through qualitative and quantitative analyses, including case studies, data visualization, and statistical methods, this paper highlights SAP’s transformative impact. Results indicate measurable improvements in inventory accuracy, customer retention, and online sales growth, demonstrating SAP’s value in enabling digital transformation under crisis conditions. This research provides insights into the potential of ERP systems like SAP for future-proofing retail businesses against similar crises.
 
Keywords: 
SAP solutions; Retail industry; COVID-19 impact; Digital transformation; Supply chain resilience; Data Analytics; ERP Systems in Retail; Retail Sales Statistics
 
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Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0