About the Program
Retailers and Consumer Products companies face new challenges in the way goods are marketed, bought and sold, and fulfilled and delivered, in a highly competitive marketplace. But emerging technology innovations are ushering in new opportunities to revolutionize the experiences that delight consumers and shoppers.
To help explore the Future of Retail and Consumer Products the SAP.iO Foundry Paris will launch a 3-month, equity-free startup program in September 2022 for B2B startups that help enterprises to succeed in this new environment. During the 3-month program the selected startups will build and develop their long term-partnership with SAP, which include defining the joint use-case, product integration, and various business development activities to explore joint opportunities with SAP customers. Select SAP customers will also be involved in the program, supporting screening, selections and as potential mentors and even beta-sites for future pilots.
Focus Areas
For our upcoming Future of Retail and Consumer Products Program, we are specifically looking for B2B startups in the following domains, providing us with solutions for the following:
Retail & Consumer Products Industry Innovation
- Omnichannel solutions that help retailers and CP’s offer unique, differentiated and personalized experiences (e.g. gamification, virtual product trials, product and packaging design, virtual brand experience environments, etc.)
- Software solutions that enhance in-store and / or virtual experiences via innovative technology solutions (e.g. AR/VR innovations, pop-up stores, etc.)
- “Live shopping” solutions that connect with existing digital CX platforms
- Business networks facilitating and improving collaboration and execution – suppliers, CP companies, retailers
- Emerging alternative consumer and shopper experiences such as:
- “Curbside pickup”, “buy online pick up in store” (BOPIS), “scan and go,” and “just walk out” experiences
- Alternative, virtual shopping experiences (e.g. in App, alternative channels incl. social, gaming, etc., “endless aisle” AR / VR opportunities, etc.)
- Delivery experiences (including micro fulfillment centers and partnerships with last-mile delivery providers)
Sustainable Retail Supply Chains
- Present, sell and design products easily in a sustainable manner
- Reduce returns and decrease waste
- Facilitate recommerce
- Metaverse & Web 3.0 for Retailers and Consumer Products
Leverage the power of AR/VR/XR
- Explore opportunities with NFTs, payment and cryptocurrencies, for digital and physical worlds
- Manage avatar identity, digital twins, design, security, preferences and data privacy
- Enhance the product search experience by leveraging 3D/AR/VR technologies
- Expanding the definition of product experience (e.g. virtual content, training, community, consumer-driven design and personalization, etc.)
