advent of new technologies. The most significant
who cited the fact that 7.4 million people pass
of these is actually the increasing use of the
though the Shanghai subway every day.
internet for making purchases, which will continue
The session concluded with the recognition
to change the face of retail.
that retail offerings must continue to be customer
Paul Delaoutre responded to this
focused, taking into account changing habits
assertion by agreeing that the topic of matching
within new urban environments and thanks to ever
internet retail to in-store strategies is a hot one.
evolving technologies.
However, it is important to not fall into the trap of thinking of retail in terms of stores selling products, but rather of brands serving customers. The best use of technology is in learning to better understand what customers want and responding to their needs. However, the competition coming from online retailing will make it increasingly difficult for small retailers in disadvantaged areas to compete. From the perspective of Jean-Charles Decaux, the firm is the bridge between products and services and the municipalities that must find innovative ways to fund infrastructure projects. The challenge is to perceive the major trends that will impact mobility and navigation of the city. For example, many were unsure about whether the Velib bike-share system would work given such cheap user pricing. However, this is what ultimately contributed to its success. Despite claims otherwise, Paul Deloutre argued that mobility is not decreasing but increasing, offering new opportunities and markets for retailers. Additionally, the scale of emerging cities holds massive potential for revenue generation according to Jean-Charles Decaux,
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