Retail Frictionless: Driving Innovation and Efficiency in Automated Retail Solutions

The project involves the industrialization process of an IoT platform designed to automate key processes related to customer experience and store management in physical retail locations.

The project's primary objective was strategic, particularly aimed at repositioning the brand in the short and medium term within the European retail design landscape. This repositioning allowed the brand to transition from being a service provider to becoming a partner.

Product Goals and Outcomes: Aligned with Strategic Metrics and Continuous Improvement

Goals

• Streamline and scale the industrialization process for a retail solution

• Accelerate decision-making for faster time-to-market

• Ensure efficient ROI assessment and validation

• Strengthen the brand’s market positioning and align with new industry trends

Results

• Successful Pilot Transition: The Automatic Microstore passed executive management review and moved from pilot to industrial-scale production, aligning with our North Star Metric of operational efficiency and market readiness.

• Secured Implementation Budget: Following a positive business plan assessment, the pilot project secured budget approval, paving the way for rollout and measurable impact on the market.

• 100% Sales Force Engagement: Full engagement with the client’s sales team for training and alignment on new market positioning, positioning the brand effectively in the frictionless retail space.

• Strategic Concept Presentation: Developed and presented a video concept on frictionless retail at the client’s general assembly, demonstrating brand innovation and highlighting value for prospective clients.

Service Blueprint - Presale & Post Sales walkthrough.

Business strategy model for the frictionless point of purchase (B2B).

Product Roadmap: Vision-Driven Workshops and Progressive Deliverables

Our approach utilized a weekly workshop cadence with the client, ensuring close collaboration and active involvement from the product owner to refine the vision and define incremental value. Each workshop culminated in deliverables that represented progressive insights, moving from initial needs analysis to finalizing the executive design of the solution. This iterative, collaborative roadmap provided actionable progress at each stage, enabling quick pivots and alignment with evolving strategic objectives.

Framework Application:

• North Star Metric and Strategic Vision: A North Star Metric of “frictionless operational efficiency” was set to guide roadmap decisions, keeping the focus on scaling industrial processes and enhancing brand perception.

• Backlog Management and Prioritization: Backlog items and user stories were managed to support rapid iteration, prioritizing tasks that directly influenced market positioning and operational effectiveness.

• Iterative Design with Data-Driven Adaptability: Feedback loops at each workshop informed refinements, leveraging data insights to adapt and align deliverables to business needs.

Project Roadmap

Through a comprehensive Product Management Framework that integrated strategic vision, collaborative roadmap planning, and a data-driven approach, the “Retail Frictionless” project successfully set a new standard in the client’s retail operations and positioning.