GIFI is…
- A leading French smart discount retailer with more than 500 stores in France
- Over 40 years of history: a family-owned company founded in 1981
- An IT department of around 80 people organized into several teams (Architecture, PSM, Network, Support)
- An Enterprise Architecture team of 3 architects integrated into a complete DevOps chain
- An application landscape of 104 applications, more than 420 mapped data flows, and 582 critical business data objects referenced
Objective: Make IT system mapping accessible across the company
Discover how GIFI, a major player in non-food retail, transformed its IT system mapping approach by merging two separate tools into a single solution with myCarto. This approach now covers all enterprise architecture layers, from business processes to data, while making this knowledge accessible company-wide.
GIFI is a well-known French retail brand specializing in home equipment and affordable products for the whole family. With more than 500 stores and a strategy focused on continuously renewing its product offering, the company relies on a complex information system that underwent a major transformation through the Millénium program.
GIFI’s IT department, with around 80 employees, faced several challenges:
- Two separate mapping tools: one dedicated to business processes and enterprise architecture, the other to data flows and data — with no real integration between them
- Complexity that limited adoption beyond the architecture team
- A manual approach to impact analysis and diagram generation
- Lack of knowledge capitalization: information remained fragmented and difficult to share
- Documentation gaps following the Millénium transformation program
Faced with these challenges, the IT department decided to completely rethink its IT mapping strategy.
Choosing a Unified Solution for Enterprise Architecture
A decision led by enterprise architects
The choice of myCarto was driven by the architecture team, particularly Stéphanie MARSALET, IT Data & Enterprise Architect, and her colleague in charge of enterprise architecture. The objective was clear: merge two tools into one to obtain a unified view of the information system.
We decided to merge the two tools because they fragmented the approach and were difficult to use. Adoption was limited due to their complexity. »
Stéphanie MARSALET – IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
Key criteria behind the selection of myCarto
After evaluating several market solutions, GIFI selected myCarto for several reasons:
- Ease of access and usability: a user-friendly interface encouraging adoption
- Metamodel autonomy: the ability to evolve the data model without depending on an integrator or the software vendor
- Flexibility: unlike more rigid solutions, myCarto can adapt to specific needs
- Partnership with AB+ Software: the ability to co-build the data dictionary component to enhance the standard offering
- Economic efficiency: consolidating two tools into one significantly reduced costs while expanding use cases
Autonomy is a real advantage. With previous tools, possibilities were limited to predefined features. Today, architects can freely add objects to the metamodel and evolve their practices independently. This represents substantial savings in total cost of ownership. »
Stéphanie MARSALET – IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
A Layered Enterprise Architecture Approach
A metamodel covering the entire IT landscape
GIFI deployed myCarto using a multi-layered approach aligned with enterprise architecture principles:
- Business view: Business processes and RACI (functions/activities), with around 150 processes to model
- Functional view: Functional mapping, functional exchanges, data dictionary, data lineage
- Application view: Application landscape and inter-application flows – more than 104 applications mapped
- Technical view: Databases, data flows, mappings, business rules – around 420 flows mapped
- Infrastructure view: Servers and hosting (currently being implemented)
A Partnership to Enrich the Data Layer
A distinctive aspect of the GIFI project lies in the co-construction of the data component with AB+ Software. Stéphanie MARSALET’s expertise in data lineage and data dictionaries helped enhance myCarto with a functional building block covering everything from high-level overviews to detailed data elements.
“What interested us on both sides was implementing the data dictionary. This feature enhanced the possibilities for describing the data layer in myCarto.”
Stéphanie MARSALET, IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
The Data Dictionary: End-to-End Visibility
The data dictionary documents critical business objects (product, supplier, customer, etc.) with their attributes and full lineage:
- Definition and typing of each attribute
- Identification of data ownership
- End-to-end traceability: which application feeds the data and where it is distributed
- Associated business rules
“Many tools start with processes and go as far as data flows, but never down to the actual data layer. The objective was to have a tool capable of mapping the entire chain from A to Z.”
Stéphanie MARSALET, IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
Key Success Factors
Automatic diagram generation: a game changer
One of myCarto’s major contributions for GIFI is the automatic generation of visual diagrams. Whereas previous tools required manual creation of each diagram after entering data, myCarto instantly generates visual representations.
“With myCarto, all diagrams are generated automatically, unlike previous solutions where each one had to be built manually. It’s a real paradigm shift.”
Stéphanie MARSALET, IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
Improved productivity in IT knowledge management
Mapping the Millénium program required more than six months of work by two people to document around 420 flows using previous tools. Today, with myCarto, a complete object (data and associated flows) can be mapped in less than an hour.
« It’s fast. You enter the data, refresh, and see the map being built progressively. In less than an hour, a complete object with around twenty flows can be mapped. »
Productivity is estimated to be 2 to 3 times faster thanks to:
- Cascade creation (adding missing objects without leaving the current view)
- Immediate visualization of changes
- No need to manually rebuild diagrams
The Power of Visuals
The graphical interface helps democratize IT mapping beyond the technical team.
« A diagram often speaks louder than a long explanation. Visual representations make understanding immediate and help engage non-technical stakeholders. »
Autonomous Maps for Company-Wide Access
GIFI deployed the Autonomous Maps feature to allow all employees to access mapping views without logging into the full tool.
« Autonomous Maps were deployed to provide company-wide access. Links are shared as needed. myCarto has become a reference tool for the Information System : a real ‘IT Bible. »
Results and Benefits
For the Enterprise Architecture Team
Immediate response to requests: « When a view of flows around a business object is requested, architects can directly access and export the maps from myCarto. »
- Full autonomy over metamodel evolution
- Long-term capitalization of IT knowledge
- Easier updates through cascade creation
For IT and Business Teams
- Improved adoption thanks to usability and visual clarity
- Project mode highly anticipated to visualize decommissioning impacts
- Shared vision of the information system accessible to all
- Support for impact analysis during transformation projects
From any point in the mapping, you can navigate up or down through the layers of the information system. This navigation reveals additional information you might not have thought to look for. »
Stéphanie MARSALET – IT Data Architect, Enterprise Architecture Department
ROI That Makes a Difference
- Consolidation of two tools into one
- Reduced mapping tool budget
- Greater autonomy reducing reliance on external services
« By stopping maintenance of one of the previous tools, we were able to fully finance a more comprehensive solution. » précise Stéphanie MARSALET
A Continuous Mapping Approach
GIFI continues deploying myCarto with several ongoing initiatives:
- Finalizing the functional mapping and updating functional views
- Extending data lineage across critical business objects
- Integrating Talend (ETL) flows in addition to existing mapped flows
- Deploying the infrastructure layer with network teams
- Extending contributions to PSM teams (business project managers)
- Implementing project mode to manage transformation initiatives
Conclusion
If you had to give advice to a company implementing an IT mapping solution:
«The tool is a foundation, and the value delivered depends on how it is used. That said, I would recommend myCarto. It stands out for its autonomy, speed of data entry, and clear visual representations. IT mapping should not remain solely an architects’ tool. »
Additional Information
Discover GIFI on their official website: https://www.gifi.fr/qui-sommes-nous.html
