The Productivity Payoff
How Retail Can Protect Margins and Unlock Growth
The Langham, Sydney, Australia
Hosted by Factor
- 20 attendees
- 2 hours
Overview
Retailers are being asked to protect margins, improve workforce effectiveness and deliver differentiated customer experiences, all while responding to changing demand. The question for leaders is where to create meaningful productivity gains without weakening the capabilities that drive growth.
This roundtable will explore how retailers can turn AI and intelligent automation into better business performance. Leaders will discuss how to identify valuable opportunities across frontline operations, merchandising and supply chain, change how work gets done and measure whether those changes deliver lasting commercial value.
The discussion will consider how productivity gains can create capacity for better service and faster decisions, alongside cost savings, and what evidence leaders need before extending an initiative across the business..
Agenda
- Delegate arrival & registration(Executive Luncheon) Welcome on arrival. Enjoy a moment to connect informally with fellow attendees before the session begins.
- Welcome drinks & refreshments(Executive Luncheon) Networking break with light refreshments as we prepare for the session ahead.
- Opening remarks(Executive Luncheon) An introduction to today’s topic and discussion focus.
- Interactive discussions(Executive Luncheon) Facilitated peer-to-peer conversation covering the following key discussion points:
- Closing remarks(Executive Luncheon) A brief summary of key takeaways and insights shared during the discussion.
- Networking drinks & end of session(Executive Luncheon) An opportunity to continue conversations in an informal setting to wrap up the session.
Speakers
Nicholas P'ng · Managing Director Enterprise & SMEC ANZ, Avanade
Rucha Sawant · Solutions and Practices Lead ANZ, Avanade
Prashant Chaturvedi · Director and Industry Advisor in Retail and Consumer Goods Sector, Microsoft Corporation Prashant Chaturvedi is the Director and Industry Advisor in Retail and Consumer Goods Sector at Microsoft Asia. With over 20 years of experience, Prashant has been pivotal in guiding organisations across Asia through their digital transformation journeys. With a deep understanding of the retail and consumer goods sectors, Prashant has been instrumental in helping businesses navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, ensuring they stay ahead in an ever-evolving market. Currently, Prashant spends time engaging with retailers about the transformative potential of AI and helping retailers leverage AI to revolutionise their operations. Before joining Microsoft, Prashant worked at IBM and Capgemini, where he developed a strong foundation in technology and business strategy. His expertise and passion for innovation make him a trusted advisor and thought leader in the industry.
Partners
- Avanade Avanade is a global technology consulting and digital transformation company jointly owned by Accenture and Microsoft. The organisation helps enterprises modernise legacy technology, transform business operations, accelerate AI adoption and improve customer experiences through end-to-end services across the Microsoft ecosystem. Unlike traditional implementation partners, Avanade combines advisory, strategy, industry expertise, technology delivery and managed services to help organisations transform both customer-facing and back-office operations. Its strength lies in connecting business outcomes with technology investments, enabling organisations to modernise core platforms while improving efficiency, scalability and innovation. Avanade works across the full enterprise value chain, helping organisations transform finance, operations, supply chain, workforce productivity, customer engagement and data-driven decision-making.
- Microsoft Every company has a mission. What's ours? To empower every person and every organization to achieve more. We believe technology can and should be a force for good and that meaningful innovation contributes to a brighter world in the future and today. Our culture doesn’t just encourage curiosity; it embraces it. Each day we make progress together by showing up as our authentic selves. We show up with a learn-it-all mentality. We show up cheering on others, knowing their success doesn't diminish our own. We show up every day open to learning our own biases, changing our behavior, and inviting in differences. Because impact matters. Microsoft operates in 190 countries and is made up of approximately 228,000 passionate employees worldwide.
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