INcreasing the uptake of AI technology in Retail

ongoing

Technological advancements and changes in consumer behaviours after COVID-19 require retailers to accelerate their digital transformation to deliver differentiated consumer experiences and interactions. Nevertheless, the adoption rate of key digital technologies, such as AI, by MSMEs remains significantly low in the EU (DESI 2022), positioning the Union far from the Digital Decade target of 75%+ European companies adopting AI technologies by 2030. In most of the countries represented in the consortium, the AI adoption rate does not even reach the EU average. The European wholesale and retail trade sector is the 3rd to last in the EU regarding the adoption rate of AI technologies. A lack of a skilled workforce to adopt the integration of AI in retail hinders not only market growth in the EU and represents a significant risk for European SMEs of falling behind their global competitors and missing out on significant opportunities for growth and efficiency, and for making companies greener. In this context, the INAIR project proposal aims to reduce the AI skills gap of European MSMEs in Retail, to let them exploit the potential of AI for greening their businesses, support their competitiveness in the global market and ultimately contribute to reaching the digital decade target of 75%+ European companies adopting AI technologies by 2030. To achieve its aim, over 30 months, the consortium will: -Identify AI skills needs and gaps for MSMEs in retail in CY, DE, IT, PL and RO; -Devise, test and implement a scalable hybrid AI skills development program to re-/up-skill at least 150 owners and employees of MSMEs working in retail; -Develop teaching and training resources to support VET providers in integrating the project resources and tools into their work. Key results: AI Skill Needs & Gaps Analysis in retail; AI Core Curriculum, Skills Assessment Tool and Open Educational Resources for workers and owners of micro, small and medium-sized retailers; eLearning Environment.