Experts in Istanbul discuss digital strategies in retail

Istanbul hosted an event, Digital Retail Summit 2019, to discuss digital technologies, such as big data, internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), in the retail trade sector.

Several technology experts from local and international companies attended the event, organized by an information technology (IT) advisory firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

Ayse Kaptanoglu, IDC’s research manager, said over half of IT companies use IoT, AI, virtual reality and big data analytics.

AI raises companies’ incomes 20%, while IoT and real-time analysis increase customers’ satisfaction 15%, she stressed, adding that big data and AI reduce company losses 40%.

Huseyin Bilgen, a manager from digital solutions firm Glass House, said companies should determine their targets for digital transformation.

Digital transformation speed is higher than expectations, he noted, adding: “Firms should take the road by identifying their priorities”.

He added that 72% of the companies’ CEOs believe that the next three years will be more important than the past 50 years for their firms.

Sebnem Gurler Oakman, a technology director in Unilever, said all players of the digital ecosystem are searching for digital talents who have digital quotient (DQ).

Digital talents are native in the digital era, independent, collaborative, multi-skilled, and they aim to make different projects, she underlined.

Erdem Yildiz, the corporate sales manager in a technology company Hitachi, said data producing is important, and as valuable as good manufacturing in the new era.

“As of today, companies offer discounts for customers’ personal information,” he reminded.

Data analyzing involves three problems, including security, affective management, and access, he added.

The one-day summit discusses these problems, as well as several key industry-specific issues, such as IT strategies, innovation programs and retailing methods via online channels.