{"id":97933,"date":"2024-04-04T09:50:59","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T07:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/2024\/04\/04\/the-new-retail-omnichannel-commerce-mini-series-part-3\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T15:56:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:56:39","slug":"the-new-retail-omnichannel-commerce-mini-series-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/blog\/the-new-retail-omnichannel-commerce-mini-series-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Retail Omnichannel Commerce &#8211; Mini-Series &#8211; Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on Digital Operations Platform (DOP) &#8211; why even the old ERP should be questioned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first two parts of the mini-series &#8220;The New Retail Omnichannel Commerce&#8221;, we discussed the new omnichannel requirements and examined which approaches can be used to address these requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This last part is about the previously teased scenario 4, in which, for example, an &#8220;omnichannel retail all-in-one solution with strong OMS and ERP&#8221; could replace large parts of the entire system landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the term Digital Operations Platform (DOP), co-coined by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/report\/the-digital-operations-platform-your-bold-next-gen-approach-to-erp\/RES162978\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forrester<\/a>, and driven by trends such as unified commerce, there are a large number of systems that claim a huge range of functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below, we present our meta-definition in terms of scope, framework, and system categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"507\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/diselva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Uebersicht-Digital-Operations-Platform-DOP.png?resize=1024%2C507&#038;quality=78&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\u00dcbersicht Digital Operations Platform DOP\" class=\"wp-image-4931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/diselva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Uebersicht-Digital-Operations-Platform-DOP.png?resize=1024%2C507&amp;quality=78&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/diselva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Uebersicht-Digital-Operations-Platform-DOP.png?resize=768%2C380&amp;quality=78&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/diselva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Uebersicht-Digital-Operations-Platform-DOP.png?w=1441&amp;quality=78&amp;ssl=1 1441w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>Digital Operations Platform<\/strong> (DOP) potentially covers the following parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Solution for<strong> eCommerce <\/strong>&#8211; the online shop for customers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solution for <strong>POS<\/strong> &#8211; for customers in the consultation situation and for pickup including integrated POS solution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Order <strong>Management <\/strong>Solution with the <a href=\"\/de\/blog\/das-neue-retail-omnichannel-commerce-teil1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Requirements Described in Part 1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong> Strong central workflow<\/strong> solution for comprehensive<strong> automation<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong central <strong>data &amp; analytics<\/strong> <strong>layer<\/strong> for master data and transaction data, which can be accessed from all processes, coupled with an analysis solution for checking behavior, quality, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete <strong>Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) functionalities<\/strong> for companies in industry and trade as well as in the pure service sector<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solution for <strong>merchandise management and logistics<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete <strong>Customer Relationship Management (CRM) functionalities<\/strong> for marketing, sales and service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM)<\/strong> Solution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integration of marketplaces and other channels<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integration of backend peripheral systems<\/strong> &#8211; existing, established systems can be completely retained and integrated, which is also necessary for the gradual replacement of e.g. the existing ERP with a DOP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 2022, there are two Forrester Waves on the topic: &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/report\/the-forrester-wave-tm-digital-operations-platforms-for-manufacturing-and-distribution-q3-2022\/RES176388\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOP for Manufacturing and Distribution<\/a>&#8221; and &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/report\/the-forrester-wave-tm-digital-operations-platforms-for-services-q3-2022\/RES176393\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOP for Services<\/a>&#8220;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As is so often the case with US-focused analyst opinions, many of the systems mentioned there have little relevance for the European market with a focus on DACH and are already failing because there are no corresponding implementation partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, you will also look in vain for exciting industry approaches such as &#8220;retail all-in-one solution&#8221; or Europe-focused products, which is why your own further research is unavoidable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are various providers who cover the above parts more or less well. Nevertheless, you can&#8217;t get rid of the general feeling: &#8220;Such a jack-of-all-trades can certainly do everything a little, but nothing right!&#8221; And in principle, you&#8217;re probably not even wrong &#8211; there can be no ultimate solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the question that our customers are increasingly asking remains: Can this approach make a difference in my system landscape and if so, how?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question can definitely not be answered generically, but depends a lot on the situation and the requirements. Which brings us to the middle of an <a href=\"\/de\/evaluation-ausschreibung\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">evaluation project<\/a> that we love so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again with a view to the graphic above: A combination of the following most important framework conditions for the inclusion of DOPs in an evaluation must be present:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>level of suffering<\/strong>, especially <strong>in the area of ERP, is very strong<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>current ERP is end-of-life<\/strong> and a new solution is fundamentally needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>migration <\/strong>to the cloud version of the current ERP is simply infinitely <strong>expensive and initially without added value<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is a lot<strong> going on<\/strong> with regard to the<strong> Workflow &amp; Automation <\/strong>and <strong>Data &amp; Analytics <\/strong>layers, especially with regard to the integration of peripheral systems\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is not possible to <strong>orchestrate the company&#8217;s business processes across the<\/strong> board, based on corresponding data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is not possible <strong>to consistently focus on the customer and his processes (customer centricity <\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is the will that the processes will <strong>not be adopted exactly the same<\/strong> &#8211; rather, they should be reconsidered in advance and incorporated into the evaluation process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Internal IT must be able to imagine a changed, comprehensive and more flexible deployment scenario<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Several solutions of the IST architectural landscape are not set in stone<\/strong> and are at least up for discussion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Note: For a pure 1:1 replacement of the existing ERP, it is better to look for a suitable, lean cloud ERP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If several of the conditions mentioned apply, the next look turns to the providers, who cavort in a very confusing field. We assign the providers to one of the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Best-of-breed under one product name<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many components were strategically purchased under one company roof, which are now marketed under one product name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which parts come from which company purchase can be found out with a lot of historical research and, depending on the time and order of the acquisitions, you can see the core of the solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the manufacturer, a clean integration of the individual parts has been implemented. However, experience shows that although this is not ruled out, it is rarely the case.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Platform Approach<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The platform, which has mostly developed from one direction such as CRM, offers many provider-specific modules.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Third-party providers are enabled to develop their own modules. This means that a large number of broad functionalities and integrations are available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The range of functions and quality of the provider&#8217;s own modules, but especially those of the third-party providers, is difficult to assess in terms of quality and future viability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complete solution<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The complete solution was developed for an industry and with a focus on SMEs and is now also suitable for larger companies with its range of functions and scalability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An integration of individual components is not necessary. It is actually a single solution that is modular according to modern architectural principles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mostly generic approaches in the structure of the modules and in interaction with the workflows can have disadvantages in usability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ERP Industry Essay<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For almost all large, well-known ERPs, complete industry approaches have been developed by third-party manufacturers, which come up with a large ecosystem of business solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The industry essay expands the ERP all along the line and promises very lean projects, as processes, data and interfaces are already designed for the industry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The final completion of the ERP and industry essay by applications from the implementation service providers promises very broad and deep coverage on paper plus a lot of flexibility at the same time. A combination that can lead to worry lines later in operation and further development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Summary and conclusion &#8211; what can you take away from this final part of the mini-series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We are convinced that <strong>modern approaches such as DOP can lead to more agility and flexibility in an encrusted environment with ERP components<\/strong> .<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, it is <strong>a very long way for companies to get involved with one of the systems in the first place<\/strong>. However, if the <strong>framework conditions mentioned<\/strong> above are met, it is worthwhile to broaden your horizons and <strong>&#8220;question the old ERP from time to time&#8221;.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In contrast to a rather narrowly defined <a href=\"\/de\/evaluation-ausschreibung\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">evaluation<\/a> of e.g. eCommerce solutions for B2B or B2C, the topic of omnichannel management systems with the consideration of ERP components has a scope for which upstream <a href=\"\/de\/loesungs-und-software-architektur\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">architecture consulting<\/a> is highly recommended. Only after restriction to the appropriate scenario can an evaluation of the appropriate solution be carried out in a second step.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We would be happy to work with you to find the right application scenario with the optimal solution for your company situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We look forward to hearing from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"contact\" class=\"button is-dark\" href=\"mailto:hello@diselva.com\">Contact<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how Digital Operations Platforms (DOP) promote agility and flexibility, and why it&#8217;s worth rethinking existing ERP systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268896780,"featured_media":111540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1551,1554,1897,1916],"tags":[],"thema":[],"class_list":["post-97933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consulting","category-business-processes-levers-governance","category-data-driven-customer-centricity-en","category-expert-article"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/diselva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/opengraph-diselva.png?fit=1200%2C630&quality=78&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268896780"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97933"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113047,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97933\/revisions\/113047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97933"},{"taxonomy":"thema","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diselva.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thema?post=97933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}