pdf (22.8 MB) - METRO Group

METRO GROUP : ANNUAL REPORT 2011 : BUSINESS
→ GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT : 11. Risk REPORT
other examples of product risks include supply bottlenecks
after natural disasters, longer delivery times and price
increases. During the reporting year, for example, the devastating
earthquake in Japan led to capacity reductions in the
production of digital cameras and multimedia devices, while
the flooding in Thailand entailed higher prices for computer
hard disks.
our contribution to a sustainable supply chain is described
in chapter 7 sustainability Management on pages 125 to
138.
Logistics
The responsibility of logistics is to ensure a high security of
goods supplies at optimised cost structures while considering
sustainability-related aspects such as energy and fuel consumption.
The wide variety of goods and articles and the high
merchandise turnover, however, result in organisational, IT
and logistics risks. The Company’s international positioning
and focus on national, regional and local product assortments
increase these risks. additional challenges arise from the
expansion of our online activities and our multichannel business,
delivery options and other innovative sales formats. any
disruptions in the supply chain, for example in the supply of
goods, could lead to business interruptions. We reduce our
dependency on individual suppliers and service providers by
expanding our circle of business partners and employing the
principle of efficient assignment of responsibilities.
another logistics risk arises from the generally complex and
at the same time underdeveloped supply structures that prevail
in emerging markets, in particular. In many cases, these
go hand in hand with particularly challenging climatic conditions
that can result in food spoilage on the way from the
producer to the store. MeTRo GRoUp creates the necessary
structures to ensure consistently high quality along the
supply chain at all times. We use qualification programmes
to prepare our suppliers in emerging markets for these
logistics requirements.
In case of product incidents, our logistics systems must be
prepared to trace the good’s itinerary and origin within a very
short time. This is done with the help of modern technologies
and product identification standards. We actively engage in
various international organisations to foster the development
of these standards and promote the introduction of innovative
technologies for improved product identification.
→ p. 161
The innovations which we apply in logistics are described in
chapter 6 Innovation Management on pages 122 to 124.
information technology risks
The demands of our information technology (IT) have markedly
increased as a result of new formats and sales channels,
such as online retail and deliveries. other tasks include realtime
analyses of business processes and timely monitoring
and management of merchandise flows. Regulations, for
example on data protection or credit card processing, the
associated increased public debate about misconduct as well
as the increasing complexity of IT generate additional risks
for our Company.
as a result, we have reinforced the organisational measures
that ensure our compliance with internal and external IT
regulations. We regularly check systems connected to the
Internet for weak spots. We counter the increasing complexity
of modern IT landscapes through tightened management
regulations and a centralised corporate architecture, known
as enterprise architecture management.
Important business processes such as product ordering,
marketing and sales have used IT systems for many years. as
a result, the continuous availability of the infrastructure is a
critical factor in the development and implementation of new
IT solutions. systems that are essential business operations
in the stores, above all checkouts, are largely self-contained
and can continue to be used for some time even during events
such as network failures or the failure of central systems. In
case of partial network failure, they can automatically reroute
shipments or switch to redundant routes. Modern technologies
such as server virtualisation allow us to make efficient
use of hardware and ensure that key IT systems can swiftly
be restored in case one or several servers break down. We
operate several central computer centres, which enable us to
compensate even for major failures and to limit business
interruptions to a minimum. These organisational structures
minimise numerous risks, including the risk of natural disasters
or criminal acts.
In addition, we ensure that the data we process are correct
and can only be viewed by authorised staff. The necessary
user accounts and access authorisations are administered
centrally according to predefined, partially automated processes
– from the employee’s hiring through departmental
changes to their departure from the Company. We regularly