This year, in partnership with the 3DRC, Kalypso interviewed retail product leaders that are in the “deep end” of DPC. As brands continue to scale, this research uncovered new sets of challenges and “off the record” highs and lows of digital transformation.
In the video discussion below, Kalypso’s Alison Coddaire and Sophia Lara, along with Target’s Sandy Gagnon, share and explore insider information from this annual Digital Adoption Research.
The discussion highlights the state of digital transformation in retail, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in 3D product creation, automation, and scaling digital initiatives. Key themes included navigating leadership changes, fostering seamless workflows, balancing internal expertise with vendor partnerships, and addressing reliance on physical prototypes.
Don’t have time to watch the full video on-demand? Scroll down for a summary of the key takeaways…
Key Takeaways:
Leadership and Governance: Strong governance and executive buy-in are critical for sustaining long-term digital transformation efforts. Leadership changes often disrupt progress, necessitating robust roadmaps and knowledge management to mitigate delays.
Seamless Workflows: Integration of tools and processes across functional areas remains a significant challenge. Transparency about interoperability gaps and collaborative industry efforts can drive improvements.
Automation Opportunities: Automation is key to reducing manual tasks and increasing efficiency. Focusing on high-impact solutions with clear ROI is essential.
Balancing Expertise: Effective digital product creation requires a mix of internal upskilling and strategic vendor partnerships. Specialized roles and cross-functional collaboration enhance scalability.
Physical and Digital Integration: Despite advances in 3D modelling, the “touch crutch” persists, with teams needing confidence in making decisions based on digital prototypes. Hybrid workflows that integrate physical and digital assets are emerging as a best practice.
Education and Training: Hands-on, practical training is crucial for developing 3D expertise. Industry-driven certification programs are beginning to address skill gaps.
AI Integration: AI complements digital product creation, especially for visualization and data management. However, its role in production workflows is still evolving.
Industry Collaboration: Engaging in industry networks and events accelerates collective problem-solving and establishes best practices.
Noteworthy Quotes:
On Leadership Stability:
“Digital transformation is a multi-year journey; when leadership shifts, it’s crucial to reground in a clear roadmap rather than starting over.”
On Automation and Integration:
“We have to get away from the clicks—automation is essential to unlocking the true value of 3D digital product creation.”
On the Touch Crutch:
“Physical prototypes aren’t disappearing, but understanding where digital complements physical processes is key to optimizing workflows.”
On Education Needs:
“Building 3D expertise isn’t a one-day process; like learning a new language, it requires consistent practice and increasingly complex projects.”
On AI’s Role:
“AI and digital product creation are complementary; AI reduces manual tasks, while DPC anchors in production realities.”
On Industry Collaboration:
“The power of bringing the group together can amplify your story and accelerate progress for the entire industry.”
Join us for the next 3DRC webinar on December 12 where we will be sharing what has happened in 2024 and what is planned for 2025. Click below to find out more!
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