ERP Systems for Shoe Retail: The Comprehensive Comparison 2026
BITS, HIS, ETOS APOLLON, IPOS, prohandel, Sontec, advarics, JTL-Wawi and DezemberHub: nine systems, honestly assessed by target group, architecture, strengths, and pricing model.
Transparency upfront
This comparison comes from DezemberHub. We offer our own ERP system for shoe and fashion retail, making us one of the nine providers compared here. We have assessed the other systems to the best of our knowledge based on publicly available sources (as of June 2026). All mentioned brands are the property of their respective owners; we have no business relationships with the other providers listed.
An ERP system for shoe retail manages stock, purchasing, and sales across sizes, widths, seasons, and stores, usually with an integrated POS and ECC data connection. In 2026, the market is in motion: acquisitions, new pricing structures, and the shift toward the cloud are changing the options available. This overview places nine systems side by side, from long-established industry specialists to general-purpose e-commerce systems.
The short version
- Deep industry specialists (sizes, widths, ECC): BITS, HIS, ETOS APOLLON, IPOS, prohandel, Sontec.
- Cloud-first and device-independent: IPOS, advarics, DezemberHub.
- Generalist and strong in e-commerce: JTL-Wawi.
- Public, monthly cancellable pricing: JTL-Wawi and DezemberHub. All others quote on request.
- Six of the nine providers now belong to two software groups (Brandt and TSS). Independent providers are Sontec, advarics, JTL, and DezemberHub.
The nine systems in detail
1. BITS (Brandt Software-Produkte)
BITS has been developed since 1983 by Brandt Software-Produkte GmbH in Aschaffenburg and targets fashion shoe and sports specialists, from single stores to multi-location retailers. The system runs as a local installation (on-premise) and covers a wide range of everyday retail operations with its own POS system (BITS-POS), purchasing planning, stocktaking, and modules such as team sports. According to the vendor, more than 460 customers with around 1,200 points of sale use BITS. Online shops are connected via XML and web service interfaces. Licensing is through ongoing usage fees; no public price list is available, pricing on request.
BITS vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →2. HIS (Ariston Informatik)
HIS::WIN by Ariston Informatik (founded 1986, part of the Brandt Retail Group since 2017) specializes in size-based fashion retail: shoes, textiles, sports, leather goods. The size-color matrix is at the core of the system. Architecturally, both options are available: local installation in a Windows network or the browser-based variant HIS::ASP hosted in the Ariston data center. More than 670 companies use HIS::WIN, plus over 1,400 installed HIS::POS registers. HIS includes its own marketplace connections, including Amazon, eBay, schuhe.de, and schuhe24.de. Prices are not publicly listed, pricing on request.
HIS vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →3. ETOS APOLLON
APOLLON by ETOS GmbH from Bergkamen (founded 1997) is an ERP system built exclusively for shoe retail: size runs, widths, NOS items, seasonal goods, and ECC data exchange are at its core. According to the vendor, more than 230 shoe retailers use APOLLON. A distinctive feature is the native connection to the ECC's ERIX product database with several hundred thousand shoe items. APOLLON is widely deployed as a traditional installation; cloud features are being expanded according to the vendor. Since January 1, 2026, ETOS has been part of the Brandt Retail Group. Pricing on request. (Source: schuhkurier)
ETOS APOLLON vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →4. IPOS (EBG-Data)
IPOS by EBG-Data GmbH from Neuss (since 1988) is a cloud-based ERP system with integrated POS for shoe, sports, and toy retail. The current generation, IPOS online, runs in the browser without a local server, and the POS is TSE- and DSFinV-K-compliant. According to the vendor, around 1,200 active customers in nine European countries use the system. IPOS is deeply embedded in the industry ecosystem (schuhe.de, Zalando Connected Retail, sport2000.de, SABU.de, ECC); native connections to general marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or OTTO were not identifiable as of June 2026. Billing via a monthly fee with no upfront costs; no public price list is available. In June 2026, the ANWR Group sold EBG-Data to the TSS software group. (Source: schuhkurier)
IPOS vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →5. prohandel
prohandel GmbH from Bielefeld (founded 1998, part of the Total Specific Solutions software group since 2017) develops an ERP system exclusively for fashion retail, including shoes and sportswear. This includes POS systems, a mobile app for stocktaking and store processes, and EDI and NOS functions. The target audience is boutiques, chain retailers, and larger independent stores. Marketplace connections run via partner solutions, not natively. A new cloud ERP system is announced for 2027 according to the vendor. Prices are not publicly listed, pricing on request.
prohandel vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →6. Sontec
Sontec Systemhaus GmbH from Körborn in Rhineland-Palatinate has been developing an ERP system with POS software for shoe and textile retail since 1992, from single stores to multi-location operations. The system is installed locally; the vendor explicitly advertises that all data stays on-premises and no cloud is used. Functionally it covers everyday retail operations: stock replenishment, goods receipt, labeling, MDE-assisted stocktaking, stock equalization, automatic stock distribution between stores, and size grids with size equalization. Master data is imported automatically via the ECC connection, and there are interfaces for EDI, the SABU online portal, DHL shipping, online shop import, and financial accounting. Native connections to marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or Zalando were not identifiable as of June 2026. No public price list is available, pricing on request.
Sontec vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →7. advarics
advarics is a fully cloud-based ERP system with POS for lifestyle retail: fashion, sports, shoes, and accessories. The system runs as a web app in the browser on any device, with no local installation required. advarics is an official technology partner for Zalando Connected Retail and is connected to the BTE Clearing Center for electronic data exchange with suppliers. The customer base ranges from single stores to multi-location chains. According to the vendor, billing is via a subscription model without long-term commitment; specific pricing on request.
advarics vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →8. JTL-Wawi
JTL-Wawi by JTL-Software GmbH (since 2008, over 50,000 customers) is the only generalist system in this comparison: built for e-commerce retailers across all industries, with variant management that is also used in the fashion and shoe segment. It runs as a Windows application with a SQL database (on-premise). Marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, OTTO, and Kaufland are connected via the paid eazyAuction module; for Zalando or About You, an additional chain of Connector and middleware is needed in practice. Prices are publicly available: JTL Start is free, Advanced is 99 EUR, and Pro is 329 EUR per month (as of June 2026), with eazyAuction added based on order volume. Shoe retail specifics such as ECC clearing or widths are not part of the core.
JTL-Wawi vs. DezemberHub: detailed comparison →9. DezemberHub (our own system)
DezemberHub is a cloud-based ERP system with POS for shoe, fashion, and sports retail. The guiding principle: the software adapts to your store, not the other way around. Size grid with widths, seasons, and ECC purchasing are part of the core. The POS is TSE- and DSFinV-K-compliant and continues to process sales without internet access. Shipping, reporting with DATEV export, and an AI assistant are also included in the base price. The optional online module connects over 50 marketplaces and channels and is billed purely on a usage basis. If you do not sell online, no additional costs apply.
The pricing model is public and unusually straightforward: €50 base price plus €50 per simultaneously running POS, cancel monthly, with no setup costs. Revenue, number of stores, and number of employees play no role. Running DezemberHub in parallel alongside your existing system is possible for testing purposes, making it the first system switch that does not feel like one.
Honest assessment: DezemberHub focuses on DACH and on shoes, fashion, and sports. For other industries or pure wholesale scenarios, there are more suitable systems.
The comparison table
Swipe to see all columns
| System | Industry focus | Architecture | Pricing model | Group / Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BITS | Shoes, sports | On-premise | On request | Brandt Retail Group |
| HIS | Shoes, textiles, sports | On-premise or cloud (HIS::ASP) | On request | Brandt Retail Group (since 2017) |
| ETOS APOLLON | Shoes | On-premise installation, cloud in development | On request | Brandt Retail Group (since 01/2026) |
| IPOS | Shoes, sports, toys | Cloud (IPOS online) | Monthly, on request | TSS (since 06/2026) |
| prohandel | Fashion, shoes, sports | On-premise installation, cloud announced for 2027 | On request | TSS (since 2017) |
| Sontec | Shoes, textiles | On-premise | On request | Independent |
| advarics | Lifestyle: fashion, sports, shoes | Cloud (web app) | Subscription model, on request | Independent |
| JTL-Wawi | E-commerce, cross-industry | On-premise (Windows) | Public: 0 to 329 EUR/month plus modules | JTL-Software GmbH |
| DezemberHub | Shoes, fashion, sports | Cloud, POS works offline | Public, cancel monthly, online module usage-based | Independent |
Which system suits whom?
- BITS: For shoe and sports specialists with multiple locations looking for a comprehensive, locally operated complete system with a long industry track record.
- HIS: For size-focused retailers from single stores to large chains who want to choose between local installation and a hosted option.
- ETOS APOLLON: For pure shoe retailers who want maximum industry depth and access to the ECC's ERIX product database.
- IPOS: For specialty retailers in the ANWR environment looking for a cloud-based industry ERP with close ties to schuhe.de and Zalando Connected Retail.
- prohandel: For fashion retailers from boutiques to larger independents who want an established fashion ERP with POS systems and a mobile app.
- Sontec: For shoe and textile retailers who prefer a lean, locally installed industry ERP and want to keep all their data entirely on-premises.
- advarics: For lifestyle retailers who want to work consistently in the cloud, without their own servers and with device independence.
- JTL-Wawi: For online-driven retailers who prefer a generalist, widely used e-commerce system with a large partner network.
- DezemberHub: For shoe, fashion, and sports retailers who want to combine industry depth with cloud flexibility, with transparent pricing, monthly cancellability, and the option to test alongside their existing system.
Conclusion
There is no single best system, only the right one for your situation. Three questions help narrow it down: How important is industry depth (sizes, widths, ECC) versus generalist breadth? Do you want to install locally or work in the cloud? How much pricing transparency and contractual flexibility do you need? Get two or three demos and compare using your own items and processes.
If a vendor change is on the horizon, it is worth looking at how a switch can actually work. How switching to DezemberHub works. Anyone who wants to evaluate DezemberHub in detail should take a look at the Pricing in detail or test the system free for 30 days without payment details.