FACING OUR FUTURES - Looking to 2030 and beyond

2024 is a pivotal year for the retail industry as it charts a course towards its exciting future. We see trends such as economic instabilities and global trade, as regional shifts and data growth change how we power and drive transformation in our businesses. In addition, there are trends in the retail industry that are gaining pace - digitization, machine learning and automation, generative AI, sensor fusion, spatial computing, simulation, and the changing physical / digital retail ecosystem. Nikolas Badminton, world-renowned futurist and best-selling author will lead attendees into a world of new possibilities, challenging listeners to widen their view, particularly as these trends spur leaders to examine better ways to operate and flourish. Be prepared to immerse yourself in new thinking as Badminton shares his views on the future of innovation, profit and growth.

Areas of Exploration

• THE VALUE OF FUTURES WORK - the mindset needed and approach to exploring futures (signals, trends, scenarios and stories). I will illustrate using stories from pioneers in the field.
• GLOBAL MEGATRENDS - economic shifts, global trade, population growth, megacities, climate change, water-energy-food nexus and the shift in ORC’s thinking regarding retail, computing infrastructure etc.
• MULTI-MODAL INTELLIGENCE - Data growth and AI + robotics + spatial / wearable computing, automation and security, anticipatory shipping, generative AI (including poisoning and espionage)
• LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION - logistics hubs, supply chain, retailer ecosystems
• CONSUMER ECOSYSTEMS - the evolution of digital experiences, store design and evolution, virtual and parallel realities, ambient computing, CBDCs / apps / ecosystems
• SECURITY & IDENTITY - OSINT, cybersecurity, crime avoidance and wnit-surveillance trends, digital exploitation and social engineering.