Digital Sustainability assignment on the positive effects digitalization has had on supermarkets.

Question

Task: how can the positive effects of digitalization on supermarkets be understood using Digital Sustainability assignment research techniques?

Answer

Introduction

This Digital Sustainability assignment analyses the positive effects of digitialization on supermarkets. When information is converted from physical format to digital version it is known as digitization. Digitization is widely practiced among firms across the world because it helps in improving customer experiences and lower costs of operation. Digitization is adopted by firms across the world because it is responsible for formulating innovative business model (Alshawaaf and Lee, 2021). There is no exception in case of supermarket industry. This Digital Sustainability assignment report aims at analysing supermarket industry and how digitisation is helping firms operating in this industry to drive competitive advantage.

Key drivers of competitive industry

Innovativeness and creativity within workplace can help firms operating in the supermarket industry to gain sustainable competitive advantage. Innovativeness in retail industry primarily aims at providing convenient shopping experiences to customers. Natural refrigeration with the help of Internet of Things can help store managers of supermarket store perishable food and simultaneously reduce emission of Carbon (Koegelenberg, 2019). Moreover it is observed on this Digital Sustainability assignment that stores can also use carts that are made of recycled plastics. This strategy has been adopted by IGA Australia for their Supa retail and liquor store.

In addition to this, working on brand value is another key driver behind sustainable competitive advantage. To increase brand value, it is the responsibility of the organizational leaders to emphasize on personalization. The managerial team of IGA Australia have made sure to serve sustainable and personalized products to their customers by collaborating with local suppliers. Encouraging suppliers to produce sustainable products is also having less negative impact on the environment as per the Digital Sustainability assignment research findings.

Impact of Digitisation

In the current business environment, organizational leaders are emphasizing on adoption of digital technologies. Digital transformation theory has been adopted by firms operating in Supermarket industry in order to provide advanced shopping experiences. The objective of Digital Sustainability assignment transformation theory is to change business operations and its process of operations by integrating advanced digital technology. The change is initiated to deliver customers valued and high-quality services. Digital transformation theory can be effectively implemented within the workplace through leadership strategies (Matsunaga, 2021). IGA Australia is a renowned player in the supermarket industry. The organization has gained popularity because it has gained sustainable competitive advantage with the help of digitisation. IGA is also known to have competed with large supermarkets like Tesco in terms of sustainability and digitisation. In the following part of the report, few recommendations have been made. The objective of these Digital Sustainability assignment recommendations is to help business leaders understand how digitisation can have an impact on business operations and help firms gain sustainable competitive advantage.

Internet of Things (IoT) is an important component of digitisation. IoT is responsible for creating a smart environment. IoT is related to big data and big data is further used to interpret large sets of data and make decisions accordingly (Lyons, 2019). IoT can have an impact on developing sensors and other components that can be further used for manufacturing a cooling system that is natural and have less negative impact on environment.

In addition to this, digitisation can also help in enhancing the brand value of firms operating in the supermarket industry. Customers who desire to get sustainable services can be provided with sustainable in-store shopping experiences. Digitisation ensures customer mapping. The touchpoints of customers can be analysed with the help of digitisation. These touchpoints can be further used to provide them customized shopping experiences.

Furthermore, the Digital Sustainability assignment research shows digitisation also have an impact on integration of smart-grid technology. Smart-grid integration helps in reducing wastage of energy (Mondejar, et.al., 2021). Firms operating in the supermarket industry are known for opening large stores for customers. These stores are decorated with lights and air-conditions for convenient shopping experiences. Excessive usage of lights and air-conditions lead to wastage of huge amount of energy. This is further having negative impact on the environment and is also responsible for climate change. Thus, advanced technology like smart grid networking can help in ensuring sustainable power system in stores. This can further reduce exploitation of energy that can further have less negative impact on the environment.

Conclusion

This Digital Sustainability assignment report aimed at analysing the impact of digitisation in ensuring sustainable competitive advantage. From the findings of the report, it can be found that gaining sustainable competitive advantage is important because it help firms to grow in the international market and enhance financial performance. The report concludes that supermarkets are primarily focused on initiating innovativeness and creativity in order to increase brand value. Digitisation in the current scenario is having an impact on ensuring creativeness in the supermarket industry. It has been suggested to use IoT to make energy efficient stores. Moreover, the Digital Sustainability assignment ascertains digitisation also have an impact on the personalized shopping experiences of customers that further have an impact on their brand value.

Reference List

Alshawaaf, N. and Lee, S.H., 2021. Business model innovation through digitisation in social purpose organisations: A comparative analysis of Tate Modern and Pompidou Centre. Journal of Business Research, 125, pp.597-608. Digital Sustainability assignment

Cameron, N. 2016. IGA marketing leader: Purpose and personalisation are critical to competitive success. [online]. Available at https://www.cmo.com.au/article/607326/iga-marketing-leader-purpose-personalisation-critical-competitive-success/ (Accessed 05 November 2022).

Koegelenberg, I. 2019. Prioritizing Sustainability, IGA Store Chooses CO2. [online]. Available at https://accelerate24.news/regions/australia/prioritizing-sustainability-iga-store-chooses-co2/2019/ (Accessed 05 November 2022).

Lyons, L., 2019. Digitalisation: Opportunities for heating and cooling. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg, p.38. Digital Sustainability assignment

Matsunaga, M., 2021. Testing the Theory of Communication and Uncertainty Management in the Context of Digital Transformation with Transformational Leadership as a Moderator. International Journal of Business Communication, p.23294884211023966.

Mondejar, M.E., Avtar, R., Diaz, H.L.B., Dubey, R.K., Esteban, J., Gómez-Morales, A., Hallam, B., Mbungu, N.T., Okolo, C.C., Prasad, K.A. and She, Q., 2021. Digitalization to achieve sustainable development goals: Steps towards a Smart Green Planet. Science of the Total Environment, 794, p.148539. Digital Sustainability assignment