Leading from the front

Digital Reinvention in retail

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Executive overview

Authors: Karl Haller, Global Leader, Consumer Center of Competence, IBM Global Business Services, Pascal Gaussen, IBM Industry Academy member, Simon Glass, Global Retail Leader, Anthony Marshall, Research Director, IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM Global Business Services

Reimagining the retail enterprise The retail industry has been the epicenter of innovation for centuries. Emergence of emporia or department stores in the mid-1800s, including Harrods of London, Macy’s of New York and Le Bon Marché of Paris redefined the shopping experience and inspired other industries. Consumer demand for cutting-edge innovations such as virtual, augmented or mixed reality, personal devices, and open source platforms and apps – has reaffirmed retail’s position at the forefront of digitization. But exposure to the brunt of technological disruption brings both challenges and opportunities. The most successful retailers we surveyed are embracing new customer-centric business strategies beyond traditional transformation that we call Digital Reinvention™.

How can IBM help you?

Rethink the role of the stores, reinvent you supply chain and engage consumers at every touchpoint

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Leading from the front: Digital Reinvention™ in retail

Brands and retailers are already adopting AI-powered intelligent automation at a breathtaking pace – and that process is about to accelerate.

Rethink, reimagine and reinvent the retail store

Consumers are changing how they shop and engage, leading the retail industry to its biggest transformation in 50 years.

What do Gen Z shoppers really want?

Gen Z shoppers expect seamless, technology-driven retail experiences based on their preferences.

Realizing the future today

By embracing Digital Reinvention™, consumer products businesses stand to reimagine operations, as well as consumer and supplier engagement.