The digital transformation journey undertaken by IKEA represents a significant shift in the company's approach to business, marking a departure from its traditional analog model towards a more digitally integrated framework. Over nearly 80 years, IKEA has established itself as a prominent retail brand specializing in home goods, relying heavily on physical stores to connect with customers. However, recognizing the evolving landscape of consumer behavior and technological advancements, IKEA embarked on a transformational journey aimed at leveraging digital technologies to enhance its offerings and operations.

At the helm of this transformation is IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), which brought in Barbara Martin Coppola, a seasoned executive with a background in technology from companies like Google, Samsung, and Texas Instruments. Martin Coppola's mandate was clear: guide IKEA through a comprehensive digital overhaul and position the company for the next phase of its evolution.

The digital transformation at IKEA encompasses various aspects of its operations, fundamentally altering how the company operates on a day-to-day basis. One of the notable changes has been the significant expansion of e-commerce, with online sales nearly tripling in just three years. Moreover, IKEA has reimagined its stores to serve as fulfillment centers, necessitating adjustments in supply chain dynamics and store layouts. This transition has enabled IKEA to operate at two speeds, catering to both online and offline customers effectively.

The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated IKEA's digital initiatives, prompting the rapid adoption of online channels as physical stores faced closures. As a result, projects that would typically take years to implement were expedited within days and weeks, underscoring the agility and adaptability of IKEA's digital transformation efforts.

However, digital transformation goes beyond technological enhancements; it entails a fundamental shift in business strategy and operations. IKEA is exploring new avenues to engage customers, deliver its offerings, and streamline internal processes. To succeed in this endeavor, digitalization must permeate every facet of the organization, becoming ingrained in its culture, decision-making processes, and overall management approach.

Central to IKEA's digital transformation is the concept of human-centric technology, emphasizing ethical behavior, diversity, and privacy in the digital realm. The company aims to maintain consumer trust by prioritizing data privacy and providing individuals with control over their data, fostering a transparent and respectful relationship with customers.

Drawing from her extensive experience in the technology sector, Martin Coppola brings invaluable insights to IKEA's digital transformation journey. Her tenure at Google instilled a culture of speed, agility, and customer-centricity, principles that resonate throughout IKEA's digital initiatives. Moreover, she emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent, fostering a supportive environment where employees can thrive and contribute to the company's success.

Looking ahead, IKEA's digital transformation roadmap includes embracing emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to enhance customer experiences. These innovations allow customers to visualize products in their homes, revolutionizing the shopping experience and democratizing interior design.

In conclusion, IKEA's digital transformation represents a paradigm shift in the company's approach to business, underpinned by a commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and adaptability. By embracing digital technologies and reimagining its operations, IKEA is poised to redefine the retail landscape and shape the future of home furnishings.

Conversely, when considering examples of digital innovation solutions, one notable exemplar is exemplified by the initiative undertaken by TEAMDEV srl in Italy with the project WiseTown (https://wise.town/).

WiseTown is a technological platform designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of cities while promoting active citizen participation. The platform collects data from various sources within the city, including sensors, IoT devices, Open Data, and proprietary datasets from municipal entities. These data are then processed by artificial intelligence algorithms to extract meaningful insights and relevant trends, forming the basis of knowledge for designing an inclusive and citizen-centric city.

This innovative approach has a significant social impact, contributing to the improvement of citizens' lives. Beyond data analysis, WiseTown creates an ecosystem of solutions for both municipal operators and residents. For municipal operators, it serves as a central control center for public services, enabling remote management, understanding of critical phenomena, and data analysis using a 3D model called Digital Twin – an interactive digital replica of the real city. The Digital Twin not only visualizes but also interacts with real-time data, allowing for real-time monitoring and data-driven planning.

The platform includes various tools such as Thematic Dashboards, interactive map-based dashboards that provide detailed information on the territory from satellite data, Open Data, and municipal data, offering insights on topics like urban planning, green spaces, welfare, and mobility.

WiseTown Issue Manager automates workflow processes and enhances communication between citizens and administration by managing citizen reports. Citizens can report issues via a mobile app with SPID access, including geolocation and images of the issue. Reports are automatically assigned to the relevant office, and citizens are periodically updated on the progress.

Another component, WiseTown Crowd Planning, engages the community in urban planning processes, fostering participatory development of social, economic, urban, and environmental projects.

WiseTown has received the "SaaS" qualification for cloud services for public administration from the National Cybersecurity Agency and is part of international networks like FIWARE and Microsoft. It closely collaborates with the Digital Innovation Hub "Innova iHub" and experts in Digital Twin technology. It complies with European standards defined by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and integrates open-source technology, aligning with EU strategies on interoperability and standardization.

WiseTown's value lies in its ability to consolidate a wide range of smart city services and tools into a single platform, characterized by its modular construction, making it adaptable to various contexts and needs. Whether for small towns or large cities, WiseTown transforms the relationship between public administration and citizen communities, facilitating data-driven, efficient governance without waste.