Digital Innovation in Retail

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For further information, collaboration and support requests for the other researches of the Digital Innovation in Retail Observatory, please contact Valentina Pontiggia (email: valentina.pontiggia@polimi.it)

The Digital Innovation in Retail Observatory is concerned with studying the main digital innovations that can reshape the processes used by retailers, with the ultimate aim of sharing knowledge and creating wide-spread culture as regards the sector’s digitalization opportunities.

2020 research develops in the following areas:

Study the evolution of the Retail context and infrastructure in Italy and the world, focusing on main current trends and on the variables that are bringing the greatest changes to the sector;
Analyse the impact of Covid-19 on the Retail infrastructure in Italy and analyse the response of leading medium-small Italian retailers to the emergency, also enabled by digital technology;
Analyse the adoption of main digital innovations by Italian retailers and closely examine some important technology trends that can generate interesting opportunities in the Retail sector (Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain,…); Study the existence and the type of online and mobile initiatives of top Italian retailers, especially the ones focused on the main phases of the value chain (Marketing, Payments, Logistics), and investigate omnichannel models integrating online and offline;
Analyse innovation (digital and non-digital) and point of sale developments in various market sectors, evaluate new store format sites based on various variables (goals, location, …), and analyse innovative and traditional store KPIs;
Analyse startups (hi tech service provider) at national and international level, to outline innovation directions, identify successful Open Innovation mechanisms, and study relationships with retailers for the development of innovative projects;
Map IT players and the digital solution portfolio for Retail to promote the matching between demand and offer and analyse the relationship between retailers and service providers to aid the development of innovative projects;
Identify and interpret the evolution of existing and emerging values of the Retail service and map and code approaches, methodologies, and innovative instruments to design human and digital touch points for the new Retail service;
Study consumer behaviour in the relationship with retailers, to understand how some social and cultural changes modify classic interaction and sales processes.

The Observatory's planned actions for 2020 are:

Field research involving the main players in the market, including the leading retailers (first 300 retailers by revenue operating in Italy), medium-sized and small retailers and offer-side players (logistics operators, banks, ICT providers, etc.).
Numerous meetings and occasions for debate:
- A kick-off workshop with Partners and Sponsors focused on defining the topics to be examined in greater depth in the Research edition;
- 3 workshops with the retailer and Partner and Sponsor Community to share and discuss Research results and to create interaction and comparison opportunities between demand and offer;
- A public convention to present the main findings of our research, with round table sessions and talks given by major players from the retail world.
A paper report containing the main findings of our 2020 research, which will be distributed during the convention.
Several in-depth online reports on the topics addressed during our research in 2020.