Duration
2021-2022
- Funding Stream
Erasmus+
The LETZ RETAIL ONLINE Project
The economic impact of COVID-19 in the EU is undeniable, with the non-essential retail and commerce, as well as hospitality and cultural sectors as the ones most affected by restrictions. According to a study by www.dbk.es, these are not expected to recover before 2024. This has aggravated the situation for many, which were already in difficulties due to increased online shopping (with competing large players) or the upcome of malls on the outskirts. While the situation is difficult there is hope for the future.
An analysis done in LETZ RETAIL on changing consumer behavior due to COVID has shown that 36% of the respondents increased their online shopping and 61% intend to buy more from small local businesses, but most importantly online presence would encourage 90% of consumers to buy from small local businesses. This is confirmed by research from the University of Gallen, which estimates that online commerce will grow annually by 15% and represent 30% of total retail sales in Europe in 2030. The combination of increased interest and willingness to buy from local businesses (and support them) generates opportunities for those capable of providing an answer by “going online”.
In LRO we understand this as the process to transform business processes to position, market, and sell their products and services online, in a (cyber)secure way. The small businesses from the retail, commerce, hospitality, and cultural/creative sectors, that want to embrace digital and start their “going online” process need innovative solutions and technologies to cater to their newly launched omnichannel offering, which go beyond the standard offers, of the larger IT providers. They need fresh thinking, fast response, and close connections that small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs that the digital sector can offer to them. The project addresses the space of intersection and intense cooperation between both sectors need.
Aim & Objectives
The main objective of LRO is thus to create a learning programs that gives the owners, managers, and staff from small businesses in the retail, commerce, hospitality, and cultural/creative sectors (from now on “small commerce” sector) and the small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs from the digital and ICT sector (from now on “small digital” sector), the knowledge, skills, and competences to co-create, co-design and collaborate for the digital transformation of the former, allowing them to “go online” in a cost-effective, efficient and secure way. The specific objectives align with the envisaged Project Results (PR):
- Set the scene and identify the challenges and context, through a scoping exercise and survey, related to the co-creation, co-design, and collaboration across the aforementioned sectors, and the digital transformation of the first (PR1: LETZ RETAIL ONLINE Curriculum: Scoping exercise report).
- Define the curriculum, consisting of skills & competence framework; learning methodology & objectives; structure of the content, and recommendations for the skills assessment method (PR1: LETZ RETAIL ONLINE Curriculum: Skills & competence framework & final curriculum).
- Develop a (validated) learning program, available through the updated LETZ RETAIL e-learning space, that fits the needs of both the “small commerce” as well as the “small digital” sectors. (PR2: LETZ RETAIL ONLINE program)
- Enhance a systemic and strategic approach to the co-creation, co-design, and collaboration across both sectors, through the elaboration of (validated) action plan templates for both small businesses from the sectors, as well as for business hubs (PR2: LETZ RETAIL ONLINE action plans).
Experiential learning, in other words learning which takes place in or around the real context of work, has been shown to be the most effective way for adults to gain new competencies. Also, the ability to learn can be gained by practice. This is also true for creativity, the ability to take part in innovation processes and to be competent in basic knowledge management practices. These are in fact relevant basic competencies that need to be developed throughout a person’s life and can be applied in various settings across one’s life stage. CLIVE introduces a systematic approach to, and opportunities for, the continuous development of VET teachers through the development of a new approach to embedding creativity techniques and their related digital tools into their teaching activities. It thus introduces a set of skills that allow them to deliver high-quality teaching in their subjects, and to address the need for educational approaches is which are more adapted to the challenges and demands of today.
Ensure wider use, take-up ad sustainability of results through comprehensive and wide-reaching sharing and promotion activities and a robust exploitation plan (PR3; Dissemination Plan; Impact Assessment & Exploitation Strategy).