Digital Innovation in Retail

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.

Observatory 2022 Research comprises the following areas:

Study the evolution of the Retail infrastructure context in Italy and worldwide, focusing the attention on the main elements that are transforming the sector;
Quantify digital investments of top Italian retailers and the main metric adopted to measure returns;
Analyze the adoption of main digital innovations by top and medium-small Italian retailers, and closely examine certain important technology trends that may generate opportunities in the Retail sector (Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse, …);
Study the presence and type of online and mobile initiatives of leading Italian retailers, analyze the omnichannel models that address online and offline integration, look into the elements on which omnichannel strategy is based, and the most substantial changes to the back-end and front-end required enablement;
Analyze sales point innovation building projects (digital and non-digital) across product sectors and new variable based store formats (goals, location, …). Follow up on the evolution of store related KPIs;
Map and categorize IT players (structured service providers and startups) and Retail digital solution offering, study the market’s main distinctive features and analyze relationships between retailer and service provider that aid the development of innovative projects;
Analyze startups (hi tech service providers) at national and international level, to identify innovation drivers, successful Open Innovation mechanisms, and study relationships with retailers for the development of innovative projects;
Analyze the evolution of current and future Retail service values and meaning, and innovative instruments for the development of different touch points;

The events planned by the Observatory for the 2022 edition are:

A Research setup meeting with Partners and Sponsors;
Two meetings with the Observatory Advisory Board to organize and setup the Research and to compare thoughts on specific topics. The Advisory Board consists of the following Retail sector professionals:
- Andrea Arcangeli, Digital Director, Gruppo Teddy
- Paolo Ciceri, CIO, Rinascente
- Marcello Colombo, Senior Manager in Digital Solutions for Retail, Client, and Omnichannel experience, Valentino
- Laura Corallo, Head of Digital and Media, Eataly
- Erika Finkelberg, Global Head of Digital & eCommerce, Harmont & Blaine
- Paola Francesca, Innovation Manager Digital Transformation, Unicoop Firenze
- Alessandra Grendele, CIO, Carrefour Italia
- Francesco, Liut, CMO, Luxottica Group
- Lorenzo Manzoni, Chief Franchising Officer, Boggi Milano
- Fabio Meregalli, eCommerce Manager, Decathlon Italia
- Diego Morgandi, E-Commerce Director, Kiko
- Marco Moschini, CIO, Benetton Group
- Emna Neifar, Chief Commercial Officer, Cortilia
- Marco Pieri, Head of Digital & eCommerce, Selex Gruppo Commerciale
- Francesca Porta, Head of ICT, Autogrill Europe
- Marco Proserpio, Head of Organization & Business Process Transformation, Esselunga
- Leonardo Raineri, Innovation Manager, Miroglio Group
- Francesco Riganti, Director, Marketing and Communication, Mondadori Retail
- Anna Savarese, Head of Retail Sales, Everli
- Fides Tosoni, Country Business Development Manager, Ikea
Three follow-up workshops with the retailer community, the Advisory Board, and Partners and Sponsors to discuss and share Research results, and to create interaction and share opportunities between demand and offer. The workshops will focus on the following topics:
- Evolution of the physical store
- Innovation of meaning in Retail and omni-experience sectors;
- Challenges and opportunities of leading edge technology in Retail.
A public Conference to present Research activity results with round tables and talks from the leading roles of Retail.

Field Research will involve the market’s major players: top retailers (top 300 retailers by revenue operating in Italy), medium-small retailers (sample of retail SMEs operating in Italy), and solution offering players (ICT providers, logistics operators, bank institutes, consulting companies, …). The methodologies used in Research that will involve a variety of people are surveys, censuses, direct interviews, workshops. Lastly, secondary source analyses and news collection and categorization.

The Observatory will produce the following content:

A Report with main 2022 Research results, produced on occasion of the conference;
Some online follow-up Reports, Videos, Graphs, and Infographics on the topics covered in the 2022 Research;
A weekly press review for Partners and Sponsors, the Advisory Board, and the retailer community, that collects the most significant news at national and international level on the Retail sector;

An editorial plan on LinkedIn to actively involve Observatory Partners and Sponsors.

Emilio Bellini

Scientific Officer

Andrea Rangone

Scientific Officer

Alessandro Perego

Chief Scientific Officer

Valentina Pontiggia

Research Director

Valeria Portale

Senior Advisor

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12 Jul 2022

Reports

Digital innovation in Retail: from idea to action Digital innovation in Retail: from idea to action

Digital Innovation in Retail 110.00 €

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21 Feb 2022

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For further information, collaboration and support requests for the other researches of the Digital Innovation in Retail Observatory, please contact Elisabetta Puglielli (email: elisabetta.puglielli@polimi.it)