Large format retailers often operate with a variety of disparate systems across their stores, making it difficult to consolidate and extract data. Each location might have different point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management tools, and customer databases, leading to inconsistencies and data silos.

Inconsistent data collection methods and formats further compound the problem. Different stores may follow varying procedures for capturing and recording data, resulting in discrepancies that hinder meaningful analysis and comparisons.

Large format retailers frequently encounter varying IT infrastructures across their stores due to factors such as acquisitions, mergers, or store relocations. These differences in hardware, software, and network configurations pose hurdles in establishing a centralized data-sourcing mechanism.

As the number of stores increases, the task of sourcing data becomes more daunting. Retailers need to allocate sufficient resources, both in terms of personnel and technology, to handle the growing volume of data and ensure efficient data extraction from diverse geographic locations.