DIGITAIL- Fostering the Digitalization in the Retail Sector
▶Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the need to accelerate the digital transition in Europe more pressing. Since digitization is an essential element to respond to this crisis, the EU invited the Commi...
▶Objectives
The DIGITAIL project has identified, described and developed the digitized business profile with the aim of promoting the digitization of the retail sector, through a modular training programme of 100 learning hours for managers and staff of companies and shops in the retail sector. At the same time, the DIGITAIL project has shown the potential of modern digitalization by encouraging retail professionals to adopt and exploit digital technologies effectively, through the development of a practical guide with examples and best practices that provides valuable information on the benefits and applications of digitalization.
▶Activities
The activities implemented: 1) Conducting an exploratory research study to identify in detail the needs and requirements of the target group for the development of the training programme. Two focus groups were held in the partner countries. Participants in these sessions included people from retail companies, both owners and retail staff, VET experts and VET students who defined the knowledge and skills needed to transform the profile of a retail shop into a digitized shop. 2) Development of training material for retail managers and other retail staff to transform a retail profile into a digitized one. The training, structured in modules and training units, has been developed by the project partners, considering the experience and the know-how of each organisation. 3) Compendium of ideas, practical tools and real-world examples to help retailers successfully navigate the digital transformation, providing an understanding of the concept of digitization, its importance in the EU context and the policy drivers of digitization. It also provides the added values that digitalization has brought to businesses in the retail sector and shows the strategies and tools that retailers can employ to digitize their business.
▶Impact
PR1) Exploratory research: a research study report defining the different learning fields required by the new digitalized retail sector, based on a discussion of modern EU VET principles and methods, which serves as a basis for the deduction of PR2 modules and learning units. PR2) DIGITAIL training curriculum and a modular online training programme for retail sector managers, trade staff and VET trade students. The training programme (on Moodle platform) has been divided into four modules: Consumer Goods Merchandising and Industrial Merchandising, Digital Marketing, Operational Skills and Entrepreneurial Skills. The entire training programme has a total duration of 100 learning hours. PR3) A practical handbook 'Modern and digitized Retail Sector in Europe - concepts, methods, practical application' to equip retailers with the necessary knowledge and tools to successfully embark on the path of digital transformation. Case studies and real-life examples of successful digital transformations in the sector are incorporated to illustrate the potential benefits, challenges and outcomes of digitization. -Organisation of 4 TMs. -Dissemination materials and 4 multiplier events.