Location Decisions in Transition: Smart City Analytics in Retail – Practical Insights from Worms University of Applied Sciences

In today's world, what determines whether retail locations thrive and city centres remain vibrant? Data-driven insights are becoming increasingly essential for decision-makers in retail and urban development alike. Visitor analytics, movement patterns and usage data reveal how urban spaces are experienced and used in reality, providing a solid foundation for informed strategic decisions.

A project involving the University of Applied Sciences in Worms within the city initiative 'Worms wird WOW' illustrates how these analytical approaches can be explored through practical academic projects. The university contributed a clearly defined teaching project, offering a scientific perspective on the current challenges facing traditional retail.

As part of the “Retail LIVE” course led by Prof. Dr. Nektarios Bakakis at Worms University of Applied Sciences, students worked intensively on the concept of a fully automated retail operation. Supported by the City Hub team of 'Worms wird WOW', the students gained valuable insights into real-world location conditions, inner-city vacancies and applicable regulatory frameworks. Over the course of a semester, the students developed comprehensive concepts covering everything from technical infrastructure and approval processes to marketing strategies and personnel planning. A particularly valuable aspect of the course was the realistic assessment of feasibility using a specific vacant retail space in the city of Worms.

As the project progressed, it became clear that, although automated retail concepts offer significant technological potential, they also present substantial challenges. Key evaluation criteria included identified security risks, particularly in the context of potential 24-hour operation; the ongoing importance of human interaction in the shopping experience; and the intricacy of local and municipal approval processes. The “Retail LIVE” findings highlight that future retail development requires striking a careful balance between innovation, safety, and customer needs.

Projects like this demonstrate the significant potential of collaboration between cities, retailers and universities. By engaging with real-world challenges, students gain valuable insights into current retail issues and develop skills that are becoming increasingly important in practice. This exchange plays a key role in developing sustainable smart city and retail concepts, which is why it is a central topic at EuroShop.

Visit us at EuroShop and arrange a meeting in advance. You will find us in Hall 4, Stand B12. We look forward to an inspiring exchange.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us: projekteimhm@hs-worms.de

Further information on the project can be found here:

https://worms-wow.de/tab-challenge-einzelhandel-live

Exhibitor Data Sheet