How the ANWR Group is pragmatically driving digitization forward

6 min read

Susanne

3 weeks ago

Between SAP complexity and AI dynamics

Digitization in retail is no longer a project for the future. Today, it determines how quickly companies react to market changes, how efficiently processes run and how well the customer experience works. At the same time, many companies are under enormous pressure: evolved SAP landscapes, increasing integration requirements, a shortage of skilled workers and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are pushing traditional IT strategies to their limits.

The latest “Real Talk Simplifier” together with the ANWR Group showed how companies can deal with these challenges. In an interview with Simplifier, Director IT, Sven Kulikowski, spoke about the reality of modern IT organizations, the limits of classic ERP worlds and the question of why low code and AI need one thing above all else today: pragmatism.

“We make retail successful” – digitization as a strategic lever

The ANWR Group is one of the largest retail groups in Europe. Around 4,500 independent retailers from the footwear, sports and leather goods sectors are affiliated with the group. In addition to financing and platform services, ANWR supports its partners with data, analysis tools and digital services.

However, digitization is particularly challenging in the retail sector: processes need to be adapted quickly, data from different systems needs to be merged and, at the same time, users now expect intuitive applications, as they are used to in their private lives. This means an enormous balancing act for IT.

“Today, IT is the central interface for almost all topics in the company.”

In addition to the upcoming SAP migration, ANWR is primarily concerned with one topic: How can processes be digitized faster, more flexibly and at the same time more sustainably?

The real challenge lies between the systems

Many companies are familiar with the situation: the ERP system works reliably, fulfills regulatory requirements and maps core processes cleanly. However, the real frictional losses often occur at the interfaces. The integration of non-SAP systems into existing SAP landscapes in particular remains complex, expensive and resource-intensive in many organizations. At the same time, the requirements for modern interfaces and digital user experiences are increasing. This is because users no longer compare business software with other business applications – but with the operating logic of modern apps.

The result:

Processes become unnecessarily complicated
Data is stored in different systems
Information is not available at the right time
Departments develop shadow processes outside IT

There is also another factor: many companies have individual SAP customizations that have grown over the years. What once seemed sensible becomes a burden during migrations or modernization projects at the latest.

Why low code is more than app development for ANWR

This is precisely where the use of low-code technologies comes in. For ANWR, the focus is not on the rapid creation of individual apps. Rather, the ability to orchestrate processes flexibly, connect existing systems intelligently and provide solutions more quickly is crucial. Low code thus becomes a strategic relief for IT. Instead of making monolithic enhancements directly in the ERP, applications can be developed outside the SAP kernel and still be cleanly integrated. This reduces complexity, creates more independence and simplifies future transformations. This approach is particularly relevant where companies work with many external users – such as retailers, partners or customers. Traditional license models often quickly reach their economic limits here. Low code, on the other hand, creates more flexible options for providing processes digitally without having to link every interaction directly to ERP licenses.

AI is currently creating a new pressure of expectation in companies

In addition to process digitalization, ANWR is currently particularly concerned with the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The dynamics are enormous: New models, new tools and new possibilities are now emerging on an almost weekly basis. Departments are experimenting independently with AI applications and expect quick results. This creates a completely new challenge for IT departments. On the one hand, innovations should be made possible. On the other hand, topics such as data protection, governance, compliance and IT security remain the central responsibility of IT.

“The solutions are almost flying around your ears at the moment. Every day someone discovers something new.”

This is precisely where it becomes clear why companies today need a clear orchestration strategy. Because without centralized control, the result is rapid:

Uncontrolled use of data
Security risks
Parallel stand-alone solutions
Lack of governance
Shadow IT with AI tools

The real challenge is therefore not to introduce as many AI tools as possible. Rather, the decisive factor is how companies integrate AI into existing processes in a controlled, secure and process-oriented manner.

AI needs processes – and processes need integration

One particularly exciting insight from the discussion was the specific use of AI at ANWR. The company is currently developing its own chatbot solutions for end customer and retailer processes. For example, customers can call up information on orders, returns or complaints directly via AI-supported services. The crucial point here: The added value is not created by the language model alone. It comes from the integration of AI into existing processes, data sources and systems. Only when AI can access structured company data, defined processes and secure interfaces is productive added business value created. This is precisely why platform approaches are becoming increasingly important. Today, companies no longer need isolated AI experiments – they need architectures that intelligently connect processes, systems, data and AI.

The new role of IT: enabler instead of brakeman

The cultural aspect of the conversation was also particularly interesting. Many IT departments are currently caught between a rock and a hard place: On the one hand, employees expect rapid innovation and modern AI tools. On the other hand, IT must assess risks, ensure data protection and establish governance. The danger: IT is quickly perceived as an impediment. The challenge is therefore to enable innovation in a controlled manner – without slowing it down completely.

This is precisely where low-code and orchestration platforms can make a decisive contribution:

Faster provision of new applications
Standardized integration of systems
Controlled access to data
Governance-enabled AI workflows
Less dependence on individual manufacturers

The role of IT is therefore changing fundamentally. It is increasingly becoming the orchestrator of digital processes.

Digitization today requires pragmatism above all else

The conversation with ANWR impressively shows how real the current challenges facing many companies are. Digitization today rarely fails due to individual technologies. Much more often, it fails due to complexity, integration problems and a lack of speed. At the same time, the pressure from AI is growing enormously. Today, companies must simultaneously:

Modernize existing ERP landscapes
Digitize processes
Relieving the burden on specialist departments
Ensuring governance
Integrating AI sensibly
deliver faster

This cannot be achieved with isolated individual tools. Flexible platforms are needed that bring together systems, processes and AI – without creating new technological dependencies.