Phygital Retail Convention 2023, on its second day, continued on a high note, kicking off with the riveting India Retail Brain Game, a quiz conducted by legendary quizmaster Siddhartha Basu. The competition featured teams from various prominent brands, including Shobhitam, Being Human Clothing, ABFRL, MOD, and Inorbit malls, among others. The questions focused on brand history, founders, and memorable ad campaigns, resulting in a competitive and stimulating atmosphere. Team Shobhitam eventually took the top spot after a closely contested battle.
There were very powerful Masterclasses by ONDC, by global retail guru Rami Goldratt and by Google & YouTube.
Meanwhile, at the concurrent event Tech.NXT, a line-up of deep-dive presentation, roundtables and debates, along with powerful case studies of retail transformation via tech, all presented LIVE, was in motion.
Subsequently during the day, retail leaders gathered for a thought-provoking session on the Future of Talent Acquisition. Ashish Tiwari, CMO of Home Credit, emphasised on the importance of human connection in the retail industry, stating that AI can never replace HI (human intelligence). Ashish went on to explain how AI can be used to empower humans but to provide personalized store experiences, with human connection remaining the most crucial element.
Other panelists agreed that AI can be used to enable decision-making and improve operational efficiency, but it should not be viewed as a replacement for human talent. The consensus was that the key to success lies in a harmonious coexistence between humans and AI, with technology playing a supporting role in the retail industry’s growth and development.
Talking on possible collaborations between D2C Brands and shopping centres, Yash P Kotak, Co-Founder & CMO, BOHECO emphasized the importance of creating a human-centric design and a safe and unique customer experience. Siddharth Dungarwal, Founder, Snitch highlighted the integration of the store design with the brand story and the growing importance of digital branding. The panel also discussed the potential for malls to cater to online brands moving offline and fill gaps in categories such as beauty, fashion, home, and electronics.
Gaurav Juneja, Head of Digitisation at Google, and Shubha Pai, Head Google Youtube Sales and Solutions presented a Masterclass on Building Customer Centric Businesses in an Omnichannel World. Juneja discussed the different consumer journeys in the fashion industry and highlighted that 78% of Indians make their shopping decisions online. He emphasized the four key impacts of an omnichannel approach – talent, team and organization, planning and budgeting, customer-centric marketing, and data and insights. Shubha Pai gave a glimpse of the latest trends and Google solutions available to help brands gain a competitive edge.
Overall, PRC 2023 brought together industry leaders, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative ideas that will shape the future of retail in India. It was an event that not only celebrated the industry’s achievements but also paved the way for a brighter and more inclusive retail landscape.
Also in the evening, Mufti and Triumph set a high-energy style tone with magnificent shows on the PRC 2023 fashion runway, as a precursor to the grand finale — Indian’s Retail biggest night of celebration, with the IMAGES Retail Awards 2023 ceremony powered by Vegas, recognising excellence in Indian Retail for FY23 in spectacular style..
Typically replies within a day
