Brian Kalms - Re-Thinking Retail in the Digital Era

THERE IS LITTLEdoubt that retailing around the world is experiencing some of the most interesting and challenging times in its history.

There are the global economic changes with low or no growth economies in the West, fast-growing markets in the East and new growth across Africa. Additionally, consumer markets are at the mercy of political shifts, whether through the rise of the middle classes or the search for greater democracy.

No shift is, however, more profound than the rise of the internet economy and the next wave of change largely attributable to the rise of digitally enabled consumers. One might have expected that the internet would by now have simply become business as usual for retailers whose adaptability to the changing consumer is second to none. However, the behavioural shift associated with the digital era is arguably so profound that it requires retailers not simply to act differently, but to think differently, and even to challenge the organisational and cultural structures on which they have been traditionally built.

In this collection of articles, Elix-IRRs retail professionals examine the fundamental changes brought about by the digital consumer and the related shifts in the sector. The articles discuss many of the challenges and opportunities on which our clients seek our advice. These are not only the fashionable issues of customer insight and multichannel shopping, but also the problems that arise through organisational change, the drive for supply chain efficiency and the transformation of IT from a back office cost centre to the enabling mechanism for all customer interaction and loyalty.

As a strategic advisory firm, Elix-IRR offers bespoke and differentiated advice on planning and executing these transformations, advice that is primarily focused on the creation of business value. Our team is composed of senior professionals from top-tier consulting and services firms, as well as experienced practitioners from industry. We provide inspiration and drive at every step of the transformation process, from defining business strategy, through operating model design and strategic sourcing, to the alignment of major change initiatives.

I hope you find that these articles provide some of the insightful, practical and pragmatic advice that we strive to deliver for our clients.

BRIAN KALMS,

ELIX-IRR RETAIL PARTNER,

brian.kalms@elix-irr.com