Björn Weber

Hagebau goes into the cloud: With GK Software, Infor and Microsoft, the building materials and DIY group Hagebau is building its merchandise and workforce management as well as its store solutions completely on a Software-as-a-Service infrastructure. At the EHI Technology Days, other retailers also report on their plans to use cloud solutions for core applications of their business.

Austrian beverage group Ottakringer has automated the data supply of the retail trade from its Akeneo PIM system with the help of Bayard Consulting and switched to the GDSN data pool b-synced.

Again, there are changes in the market of system providers for master data management in the consumer goods industry: Bayard Consulting Group acquires the content syndication platform SyncManager from the US-based GDSN data pool operator 1WorldSync.

French retail group Les Mousquetaires will manage the entire supply chain of its Intermarché and Netto banners with Symphony RetailAI's Forecasting and Replenishment Software Gold.

Rewe Group is semi-automating the creation of store-specific planograms with Relex. The project is part of the initiative of the Cologne-based retail group to localise its assortments data-driven based on regional shopper demand.

Whether they like it or not: German grocery retailers cannot avoid e-commerce. Amazon is not letting up. For the likes of Edeka, Rewe and Schwarz Group, it is worth looking at the French market. Through innovative concepts and investments into technology, companies such as Groupe Casino and E.Leclerc are confidently securing their business against Amazon.

At the beginning of next week, Lidl will officially launch its digital customer loyalty programme in Germany. With it, Europe's largest discounter has solved another problem: Lidl Plus offers the digital receipt.

At last the most important manufacturers of drugstore goods seem to have reached an agreement with Edeka, dm, Rossmann and Müller at GS1 Germany on an industry-wide reusable transport container for drugstore goods. The plastics processor Georg Utz and the pool operator IPP have been commissioned to initially circulate 100,000 standardised reusable boxes from spring 2021.

In Pioltello, near Milan, Esselunga has installed the first machine for online orders which transports the goods automated to the output tray. The Click&Collect store complements a range of chilled parcel lockers that the Italian retailer has already installed for the pick-up of online orders.

Lenta turns its Zebra mobile self-scanners into navigation devices with software from Re-Vision and indoor positioning specialists Signify. The team of the Russian hypermarket operator also want to use the solution in future to offer individual promotions depending on the location in the store.