Introduction: Retail VR interviews the CCI of Paris-IDF

What is a CCI?

A Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a public establishment with an administrative character.

They are responsible for representing the interests of commercial, industrial and service companies.

What is the role of a CCI?

The main missions of a CCI :

• To represent and carry the voice of the companies to the public authorities
• Manage public interest facilities
• Train and develop the skills of managers, employees and young people
• Informing companies and facilitating their administrative formalities
• Supporting project leaders, companies and territories in their economic development.

Why turn to digital? Retail VR interviews the CCI of Paris-IDF

Digital technology is a key lever for local players. Indeed, it allows to adapt shops to consumer practices and to reinforce the attractiveness of city centers.

In addition, local authorities are increasingly seeking to develop digital solutions to promote local economic life and the revitalization of their territory.

The reasons for this choice

We want to bring a better visibility of digital solutions developed for retailers and local authorities, in order to support the digital transition of retailers in the territories with a modern and fun tool.

And in a more contextual way, it is a way to respond to the need to support local commerce in the face of an unprecedented crisis that is both impacting economic activity and changing purchasing behavior at an unprecedented rate.

What is the technology used?

This is the solution Virtual Showroomsolution, developed by Retail VR, which was applied to this project. Indeed, it allows to create a virtual environment from the real. Then, you can move around, add photo or video content, consult product sheets, put items in a basket and buy them.

This immersive experience does not require a virtual reality headset and is accessible on smartphone, tablet or computer.

The project: Retail VR interviews the CCI of Paris-IDF

What is the CCI Paris-IDF's project?

The Paris IDF Chamber of Commerce has the role of participating in the strategy of commercial reconquest of city centers by promoting the development of activities.

Connect Street is a project aimed at retailers and local authorities. It has been deployed in towns across the Paris region. The original aim of the concept was to acculturate retailers to the digitalization of their businesses. By showing them the usefulness and accessibility of the solutions, both in terms of use and finance, to enable them to try out the solutions and help them understand and make choices when faced with the multiplicity of possibilities.

How did you get the idea?

The will to transform this concept into a 100% digital version is based on 3 points:

• limit deployment constraints
• to have a more complete approach and in phase with the digital universe
• facilitate access to both merchants and local authorities or other institutional partners

What is the purpose of this project?

Connect Street should enable the CCI Paris Ile-de-France to provide an effective and accessible solution to the need to professionalize retailers. These needs are expressed by :

• communities: with a view to maintaining their commercial attractiveness and dynamics
• Retailers: they are faced with changing consumption patterns and need to be supported in this world that sometimes seems far from their own and not always adapted to them

What will be the daily use?

This device must be a resource center, a space for acculturation and demonstration, and a support for the various services related to digitalization offered by the CCI Paris Ile-de-France through a website that is easy to access, fun, modern, and interactive.

This tool will offer many features, including:

• a virtual showroom module dedicated to demonstrations in a 3D environment: a real connected street with the possibility of being put in contact with each other
• a place called the Trade Agora, allowing customization and animation for communities or partners and offering live workshops, videos, documentation ...
• a module for connecting with expert advisors, digital solutions and local authorities
• information on the regional aid and support systems available for the implementation of these solutions;
• a module allowing access to webinars, trainings, workshops related to the digitalization of businesses.
• A media library, a real resource center dedicated to business and digital.

Of course, the Agora lives with the times, and the advent of Artificial Intelligence has turned the working habits of entrepreneurs upside down, so we had to help them master these new tools too. That's why we've added "La boutique de l'AI", which brings together all the AI-based solutions that could be useful to our businesses and communities.

For many of our companies and businesses, copywriting is not a priority, yet AI can help:

• Restaurant owners can use ChatGPT to translate their menus
• Writing instagram posts
• Writing support for administrative requests.

What is the next step? Retail VR interviews the CCI of Paris-IDF

Thanks to the technology used, the scope for evolution is extremely broad. In fact, the project itself has evolved enormously since the beginning of the adventure. First, we started with a virtual showroom. Then we opted for a connected street. In the end, it's an entire neighborhood into which we're adding spaces, such as the recent AI boutique.

We are already working with the CCI's Les Digiteurs site on a complementary support offer via a virtual orientation kiosk. It is integrated into the decor of the connected street and allows for an interactive dialogue and personalized support.

What are the returns? Retail VR interviews the CCI de Paris-IDF

There's a real WAOU effect, and the experience is appreciated by users and partners alike. However, as with any experience of this type, it's important to communicate its existence and benefits so that as many merchants as possible can take advantage of it. Unlike the classic information site, users spend a great deal of time on Connect Street, averaging 26 minutes per user.

Why a collaboration between the CCI of Paris-IDF and Retail VR?

First, Retail VR helps brands and retailers improve retail processes and sales through new and efficient shopping experiences. By publishing software, Retail VR offers intelligent solutions, facilitating the conversion to 3D with virtual and augmented reality applications.

Secondly, thanks to our collaboration, we are making retailers and local authorities aware of digitalization. For this, they can try the solutions.

Thirdly, by creating this virtual space, Retail VR facilitates the digital transformation and meets the desire of the CCI and its partners: to bring together different actors. This virtual universe will continue to evolve through the integration of new retailers and the development of new projects. Initially imagined as a showroom, the project has evolved into a real virtual city. This shows the potential for evolution of the virtual showroom solution.

Want your solution to be part of the project? Contact Mauricio Valdivia(mvaldivia@cci-paris-idf.fr)!

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