Wal-Mart chooses SAP for global roll out

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has chosen to roll out SAP to enhance its financial technology infrastructure by replacing some legacy systems while integrating other in-house systems.

The company recently conducted an evaluation of its financial information systems to determine what was needed to support its $350-billion (171.9-billion) business, as well as its next stage of growth.

It said it plans to implement the new financial systems in a global, phased roll out, with the first phase expected to be complete in 2010, in a move that will help the retailer to efficiently respond to changes in the business and regulatory landscape.

"Technology has played a central role in the growth and success of our business," stated Rollin Ford, Wal-Mart executive vice president and chief information officer. He added that the investment "will bring more flexibility and scalability to our growing business."

A 25-year veteran enterprise technology expert, Miya Knights applies her deep understanding of technology gained through her journalism career to both her role as a consultant and as director at Retail Technology Magazine, which she helped shape over the past 17 years. Miya was educated at Oxford University, earning a master’s degree in English.

Her role as a journalist has seen her write for many of the leading technology publishers in the UK such as ITPro, TechWeekEurope, CIO UK, Computer Weekly, and also a number of national newspapers including The Times, Independent, and Financial Times.