Swiss Prime Site Start-up Accelerator Programme: Three startups refine the use of retail customer data and experience in e-commerce

09.12.2022 15:30, Morgane Ghilardi

Swiss Prime Site, Venturelab's industry partner and one of Europe's leading listed real estate companies, is at the forefront of the industry's digital transformation. Devoted to innovating the retailtech sector, it aims to find solutions that help optimize the utilization of retail space as well as crucial aspects of retail, like customer retention and dwell time. For the 18th edition of the Swiss Prime Site Start-up Accelerator Programme, a part of the management team and industry experts developed proofs of concept with startups looking to implement API solutions for better customer experiences in e-commerce as well as optimize the use of in-store and post-purchase customer data.

The retailtech innovators who pitched to the SPS experts on the first day of the Accelerator Programme

Leveraging technologies that help improve the analysis and use of data, e-commerce processes, and other points of connection between digital and in-store aspects of retail is crucial for developing sustainable processes that foster efficiency and growth.

Swiss Prime Site's two-day Accelerator Programme gives startups in retailtech and proptech an opportunity to develop use cases relevant to SPS or its group companies (Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, Swiss Prime Site Solutions, Wincasa, and Jelmoli).

On November 29, the SPS expert jury heard eight project pitches and followed up bilaterally with an array of applicants to find commercial agreements (e.g. appropriate locations in the SPS real estate portfolio). The jury chose three startup projects to proceed to the next stage: OpenDress, refive, and Loopia.

In the words of Bastian Zarke Bueno, Head Group Corporate Ventures & Innovation: "We are pleased to see how dynamically the retail sector is currently developing and with which innovative solutions startups are making a significant contribution to the sustainable and customer-centered evolution of this important economic sector. Within the framework of the Accelerator Programme, we have succeeded in developing innovative use cases for the future of retail in cooperation with technology-savvy entrepreneurs and in creating the basis for a long-term collaboration. The use cases dealt with topics of customer identification and offer individualization as well as lifecycle services for merchandise and virtual try-ons."

The chosen RetailTech innovators spent the next day developing proofs of concept and business cases with SPS's experts, which they then presented to the executive board.
 

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OpenDress | beawear.ai

OpenDress’s B2B software BEAWEAR is an API plug-in solution for fashion eCommerce retailers with a connected marketplace and online platform. Using AI and digital twins, the B2B software aims to match consumers with items of clothing that really fit, thereby drastically reducing online returns. Capturing shopper's body measurements from any connected device and matching them with a virtual model—their digital twin—the software radically improves customers' fashion shopping experiences while helping to break the cycle of overproduction in fashion's supply chain.
 

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refive | refive.io
refive's mission is to help retailers identify, understand, and retain every in-store customer with its smart receipt, which allows retailers to collect in-store customer data and personalize in-store engagement. With refive, retailers can identify more than 50% of in-store customers and associate each purchase with personal data, contact details, and behavioral insights for each unique customer.  The data allows retailers to optimize pricing, forecast demand better, and improve customer retention and engagement with personalized digital receipts that show customers relevant offers and recommendations.
 

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Loopia (Thingsy AG) | getloopia.ch
Loopia is developing an app for a sustainable post-purchase experience. In collaboration with retailers, Loopia gives consumers easy access to circular economy services such as reselling, sharing and repairing. The simplified one-stop access will increase the use of these services and extend the lifespan of products.
 

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The SPS workshop offers intense exchanges and feedback sessions that help startups develop

The intense exchange with experts and peers offered the startups a chance to implement critical feedback and gain valuable insights that contribute to refining their solutions and processes.

"In an intensive 1.5 days, we were able to develop an attractive case together with the right stakeholders from the SPS Group and present it to the decision-makers of the Group," said Loopia's Philipp Glauser. "It's a great program that matches the speed of the startup world."

refive emerged as the challenge's winner. "The SPS Retailtech Accelerator Workshop was a great opportunity to not only present our solution but also work hand-in-hand with executives from SPS to create a specific case for the business," said refive's CEO, Mitul Jain. "This level of exposure to the most senior levels of management within a short and intense period is uncommon in the B2B world. We enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot. We highly recommend the experience."


From left to right: refive CEO Mutal Jain, Loopia CEO Philipp Glauser, OpenDress CEO Verena Ziegler, and Loopia Product Designer Tim Heeb


Learn more about the Swiss Prime Site Start-Up Accelerator Programme.