Hamburg, Germany / Dublin, Ireland – By completing a forward-looking project in Luxembourg, the sales, marketing, and support services group DCC has taken another leap in the company-wide transition from a product-led organization to a service-led organization. With the help of digitalization specialist Implico Group, DCC linked 19 recently acquired retail forecourts to its IT landscape. Also, the long-term partners equipped the new locations with capable software solutions such as the integrated downstream module SAP SDM (Secondary Distribution Management) and the data services portfolio iGOS (Implico Global Operation Services). According to DCC, the acquisition and outfitting of the sites “will add excellent company-operated convenience retailing capability”.
In addition to DCC’s own IT landscape, the sites are also connected to seven supply terminals and numerous external systems. To ensure smooth and secure data movement within the network, about 30 interfaces were established and calibrated. The multi-direction information transfer is handled via iGOS and overseen by a team of experts in Implico’s Customer Support Center. The 360-degree service offer includes data collection, completion, correction, and mapping. In addition, Implico ensures that the fully curated data is available in SAP. The gain for DCC is significant: Knowing that its IT is very well taken care of, the company can put all focus and effort on its core business. Besides Luxembourg, Implico also provides similar services to DCC in France, Ireland, Norway, and Denmark. In total, the company supports its partner in the efficient and sustainable management of more than 1,000 retail forecourts across Central and Northern Europe.
Integrated retail shop processes
Most of the sites in Luxembourg have integrated shops operated under the Cactus Shoppi brand, a well-known supermarket chain in Luxembourg. This gave the project yet another level of complexity. Among others, Implico had to make sure that the SAP SDM solution would not only support O&G processes, but also retail-related processes. Here, the customizable and scalable SAP SDM toolset PAT DC (Data Collation) plays a central role: DCC makes heavy use of the auxiliary’s pre-configurable process chains to post its business processes directly in SAP – both inside and outside the scope of the classic industry solution IS-OIL. Via modern technology, PAT DC automatically creates standardized SAP receipts from the IDocs (Intermediate Documents) it receives from iGOS. Fine-tuned towards high efficiency, this automated workflow handles thousands of documents per day in a safe and robust way. If needed, it is continuously extendable.
Alternate offers and added services
“We are now at a point where our mobility business has become increasingly offer-rich, and we see convenience retailing as a key enabler of energy transition,” explains Evrard Fauche, Operations Director at DCC’s subsidiary firm Certas Energy Retail Europe. “With their modern orientation and digital backbone supported by Implico, these retail forecourts across Luxembourg are flagship locations in this regard.”
Due to their urban locations, many of the forecourts are well qualified to serve as EV charging hubs. In preparing them, both partners will be able to build on the know-how gained from a similar project in Denmark, where e-charging at select DCC sites is also booked and billed via SAP SDM’s PAT DC.
“To remain ahead of the game in a competitive market, it is essential for energy leaders to constantly challenge themselves and push onwards,” adds Klaus Wunsch, Head of Customer Support Center at Implico Group. “We are proud that DCC trusts us to be their longtime partners in this endeavor. And we are happy that our expertise and experience have helped DCC to achieve yet another successful project completion in the quick-moving, ever-evolving service station sector.”
Beyond the set-up and go-live of the new IT architecture, Implico will also support DCC with live operations, data communications, and customer support in Luxembourg.
Share this:
