Simulation models for back-office & retail store management integration in ERP

The paper describes shortly the architecture of a complex system for managing back office activities and store management including MRP, Demand forecasting, stock evaluation system from the logistics and financial point of view, integrated in a company ERP. Simulation was the way to properly define the most suitable algorithm for demand forecasting among the many complex combinations proposed by default in the ERP Central Component plus the ones proposed by key users. This architecture was applied in a complex retail chain involving different classes/clusters of point of sales and selling many different sorts of goods (grocery, food, clothing, electronics, home goods etc.)