DIY store operator Hornbach has put Solace’s event-driven real-time integration platform into operation. The solution from the Canadian specialist provider ensures that all relevant applications can instantly access important data, such as price changes, product information or sales data.
Data flow in real time across systems shall help the company increase efficiency of its stores and respond better to changing customer expectations. Customers should be able to shop faster and more smoothly, both offline and online. “By moving to an event-driven architecture, we’ve gained the flexibility and speed we need to connect systems across all our stores and digital channels,” said Carsten Müller, Vice-President, Enterprise Architecture at Hornbach.
With more than 170 stores in nine European countries, Hornbach uses a variety of distributed systems in addition to SAP such as POS software from GK and forecasting and planning systems from Relex, as The Retail Optimiser reported. Working with Solace, the company implemented multiple event brokers in a poly cloud environment and its store locations to standardise and integrate its application landscape.
Micro-integrations accelerate data transfer
Event brokers can be described as a modern form of middleware. They are deployed to move data events within a distributed enterprise and are networked via an architecture layer called an event mesh. This enables events from an application to be forwarded dynamically. Any other application can receive these events, regardless of where it is running, whether locally or in a private or public cloud.
In contrast to a monolithic integration, Solace divides communication with applications or devices into small, custom-built components called micro-integrations. These allow data to flow into or out of an event mesh, distributing it across the entire organisation in real time. Because they are close to source and target applications, micro-integrations ensure fast as possible data transfer and simplify network configuration.
Important projects won in German-speaking retail
International retail companies using Solace’s event mesh platform include US DIY retailer Menards and Intermarché in France. The solution has also been established in German-speaking retail. In February 2023, Edeka Group’s IT unit, Edeka Digital, won one of the EHI Retail Institute‘s Reta Awards for a master data project with Solace, as reported by The Retail Optimiser.
Schwarz Group is also among its users. The Hamburg-based consulting firm CAS AG is cooperating with the Canadian technology provider to support retail companies with their omnichannel challenges. The Retail Optimiser reported.
