The Challenge.
Anyone looking for digital role models usually flies to Shenzhen or Silicon Valley. Yet a digital role model was developed right on the doorstep, in the small town of Ahaus – retail, businesses and hospitality are networked to keep the town attractive and liveable.
The Solution
Two days in the middle of town: restaurants, bars, the cinema and the hotel we stayed in – every stop on the trip is digitised and connected to the others. Participants experienced and tested innovative retail solutions right where they run.
Retail expert Dieter van Acken and Nick Sohnemann led the way through the town – with insights into what is already possible digitally in bricks-and-mortar and online retail, in tourism and in hospitality.
The payoff
Inspiration without a long-haul flight: the trip showed that many smart city and retail concepts can be implemented in German mid-sized companies too – with contacts you can simply go back and visit afterwards.
We show you on a real use case what's possible today, from the first idea to a finished result.