Industry Insights by SAP SAP SE

Christophe and Johannes explain how the global war for talent and the great resignation is affecting the manufacturing sector with many businesses struggling to attract and retain skilled workers. Digital signage is one way to help inform and engage workers on the shop floor who don’t have traditional access to email or laptops. With over 50,000 licenses in over 50 countries, Telelogos share examples of how some of their customers have been using digital signage to support their workforce.

Alex and Justin talk to Tom about the global education crisis that is affecting many of our young people, globally. We are currently experiencing the largest refugee population since WW2, including over 5m displaced Ukrainian children. It’s predicted that by 2030 50% of the world’s youth will not have the skills needed for gainful employment. Against the backdrop of the skills shortage and the resulting impact on GDP, its time that governments and businesses take action.

With omnichannel retail here to stay this is a problem that retailers really need to fix. Returns and particularly bracketing (where consumers order multiple sizes in order to find the best fit) is costing retailers huge sums of money, not to mention the impact on sustainability. Shefali discusses her idea for a “digital dressing room” where consumers can see how they look in a item, whether that be in a smart mirror in store, or at home on their digital devices.

Florian and Tom discuss how new legal requirements across the EU and beyond are also requiring manufacturers to have full visibility of their supply chains to ensure compliance with labor laws and fair pay in addition to the need to be able to calculate the carbon footprint of their products. Florian shares how manufacturers can mitigate risks by collaborating with suppliers earlier in their design processes and also explains how risks can be identified and flagged early to avoid disruption.

During the discussion Tom finds out more about how a digital sizing approach will help customers find the right fit for their favorite brands. Buying shoes online is never going to be easy, but by using Footprint to take a scan of their feet, the customer can order accurate sizes, and in turn avoid contributing to the mountain of returned goods that end up in a landfill each year. Tune in!

Themes such as hyper personalization driven by a single view of the customer and delivered across multiple platforms are not new but it’s become ever more important with the addition of new channels such as TikTok. The Metaverse presents an incredible opportunity for retailers that can harness the technology to showcase their products in a virtual world. The key is simply making customers feel special no matter how they choose to interact. Tune in to this fascinating discussion about the future of retail experience.