Big Lots Plots Growth With SAP

by Evan Welsh

Largest Closeout Retailer in the Nation Selects SAP(R) for Retail Solutions

SAP America, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP AG, today announced that Big Lots will implement SAP(R) for Retail solutions to enable the leading retailer to quickly respond to change and grow ahead of the market on a stable platform. The announcement was made at the National Retail Federation (NRF) 97th Annual Convention and Expo, being held in New York, NY, January 13-16.

With more than 1,350 stores and nearly 40,000 associates, Big Lots selected SAP to create an IT infrastructure that will play a lead role in helping the company achieve its growth targets and continue to deliver to its customers a diverse mix of brand-name close-out merchandise at tremendous value. The move to implement SAP solutions will enable Big Lots to work from a more integrated platform across its organization.

"SAP came in and quickly developed an understanding of our business and our unique niche in retail," said Steve Fishman, chairman and CEO, Big Lots. "We believe that implementing their products will be a big step forward toward creating an IT infrastructure to support our profit goals while continuing to provide our customers with what they have come to expect at Big Lots, which is an ever-changing assortment of merchandise at great values in a treasure-hunt atmosphere."

To keep true to its identity of providing a diverse mix of quality brands at close-out prices, Big Lots will leverage SAP for Retail solutions to improve event pricing and automate integrated ordering, payables, inventory, replenishment and tracking processes. With the SAP ERP(R) Financials solution, Big Lots will benefit from streamlined data integration and reporting. The ability to easily view a single source of master data across the organization will provide Big Lots executives with the flexibility to better respond to consumer demand, supplier and other market changes.

"Our relationship with Big Lots further validates SAP's position as the software provider of choice to the world's leading retailers," said, Bill McDermott, president and CEO, SAP Americas and Asia Pacific Japan. "SAP's integrated retail solutions enable customers to anticipate and capitalize on market changes in an industry renowned for infinitely changing trends and expanding supplier complexity. Big Lots is an exciting addition to our family of leading retailers."