SAGAFLOR AG

SAGAFLOR AG is the leading service and support organization for forward-thinking, independent garden centers and pet supply retailers across the German-speaking region. As a cooperative and franchisor, the company supports over 700 partner locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with a comprehensive, digitally driven service portfolio - spanning procurement, marketing, logistics, and billing.

Founded in 1965 in Frankfurt am Main as an alliance of independent seed merchants - the pioneers of today's garden center industry - SAGAFLOR has developed into a successful retail cooperative. Collectively, its affiliated businesses generate an external turnover of approximately €1.2 billion and employ around 10,000 people.

IT as the Strategic Backbone of the Cooperative

At SAGAFLOR AG, IT is far more than a technical foundation - it is the strategic pacemaker, innovation engine, and enabler of entrepreneurial growth. Under the leadership of Jörg Panthöfer, the traditional IT organization has evolved into a forward-looking, service-oriented platform model. Today, it intelligently combines central governance with decentralized flexibility.

The digital infrastructure includes:

a central SAP ERP system with industry-specific enhancements for the garden and pet trade,
a high-performance, SAP-based store merchandise management system,
scalable cloud platforms for communication, data management, and collaboration,
self-checkout technologies, mobile solutions, and MDE devices at the point of sale,
and extensive interfaces to suppliers, wholesalers, and e-commerce systems.

The result is a highly flexible, interconnected value creation network that seamlessly integrates headquarters, partner businesses, suppliers, and end customers in real time - enabling automated, end-to-end business processes across all levels.

IT Focus Areas and Strategic Responsibilities

At the core of SAGAFLOR's IT strategy are six key competence areas, which are continuously developed and maintained at a high level of excellence:

1. Information Security & Compliance

Accountable for implementing certified security standards as part of the CISO function, including network security, access controls, contingency planning, and GDPR-compliant data protection.

2. Cloud Migration & Virtualization

Gradual replacement of on-premises infrastructure with cloud-first architectures to ensure flexibility, scalability, and location independence. Full integration of Microsoft 365, Teams telephony, and SharePoint.

3. SAP S/4HANA Transformation

Migration of the central ERP platform to SAP S/4HANA, focusing on real-time data processing, automation, modern Fiori interfaces, and deep process integration.

4. Mobile Solutions & POS Technologies

Deployment of rugged MDE devices, touchscreen POS systems, and self-checkout terminals to digitize in-store retail processes - connected to live inventory and replenishment flows.

5. Data Protection & Governance

Establishment of clear guidelines for data storage, availability, and access rights. Regular audits and training sessions ensure full alignment with regulatory and compliance requirements.

6. Business Continuity & IT Resilience

Implementation of contingency plans, backup strategies, and high-availability system architectures to safeguard operations in business-critical environments.