Ahold USA has revealed that it is working with Capgemini and Enabler Wipro on a long-term consulting and systems integration project.

At the heart of the initiative is a deployment of Oracle Retail applications that will help to differentiate Ahold USA’s two brands in the market. Between them, Stop & Shop and Giant Food operate more than 700 stores.

The project has been described as one of the largest retail transformation initiatives on an Oracle platform in the world.

It has similarities with the IT overhaul that Morrisons has recently embarked on, which will also see software from Oracle deployed as part of a wider business transformation project.

Ahold is to use the software to support strategic initiatives across merchandising, supply chain, store operations, planning and analysis.

Ahold global chief information officer Dave McNally said: “Getting consistent information out of our separate applications is time-consuming and challenging. The implementation of Oracle Retail will create the foundation for our future retail systems. On top of that foundation, we will deliver capabilities that differentiate us in the market.”

Enabler Wipro senior client executive Klaus Sentker explained that applications are being delivered in two phases. A planning and forecasting system should be operational for both brands in the next couple of months.

Sentker added that work has begun on the conceptual design for the core merchandise management system that will be delivered to both brands in the second phase.

The same technology platform and applications will be delivered to both Stop & Shop and Giant Food. Ahold is taking a vanilla approach to the implementation, changing business processes where necessary, rather than making bespoke changes to the software.

The systems will replace a combination of custom and packaged applications, with Capgemini working on project management and change management for the initiative. Enabler Wipro will focus on the software implementation.