Alphamega CIO takes part in digital transformation summit

Alphamega Hypermarkets’ Chief Information Officer, Andreas Demetriou, recently took part in the global ‘CIO Middle East summit’, held over September 13-14 in Dubai, which focused on current developments and innovative practices in IT, cybersecurity, digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence.

CIOs and Chief Technical Officers from leading Middle Eastern companies attended the conference, to share their expertise and insights. Alphamega CIO Demetriou took part in a panel discussion entitled ‘Is the Metaverse the ultimate omnichannel shopping experience, or another means to achieve it?’ The panelists shared their perspectives as to how the Metaverse will change the retail sector, together with how the challenges of digital transformation will affect the customer experience.

In statements, the Alphamega CIO stressed that companies have been urged to experiment and comprehend the capabilities of the Metaverse, in order to keep up with new market and consumer trends. He also predicted how people would shop in the Metaverse.

CIO Demetriou stressed that the Metaverse has multiple benefits, as it will be easier and quicker, to access while being capable of adapting to meet each customer’s specific needs. At the same time, Demetriou said limitations arising for certain consumers would also need to be taken into account, adding that the Research and Development departments of companies worldwide are working hard to develop the technology that would overcome such limitations.

The panelists exchanged views on the practices companies are being called to adopt, in order to keep up with the needs of their digitally-native clients, as part of the new, digitised environment. All speakers admitted that the lines between online and in-store shopping have become blurred, and that the Metaverse will eventually become an important part of our lives, as well as a strong sales channel for companies.

“It has been a great pleasure to take part in such an important conference on the link between technology and costumer experience,” said CIO Demetriou in post-summit statements.

“According to the latest studies, it is estimated that about 15 per cent of the population will spend at least one hour per day on the Metaverse by 2026. This will undoubtedly change the way that people shop, and this element needs to be seriously taken into account by the companies.

“At Alphamega Hypermarkets, we acknowledge the needs of the new era and began our digital transformation journey as far back as 2018,” he continued. “We are constantly offering new services and products, in order to improve our customers’ shopping experience.

“At the same time,” he added, “we proceeded with the digitisation of our entire range of internal procedures, considerably reducing our environmental footprint.

“Our long-standing objective is to remain on the path that has made consumers consider us as the most contemporary and innovative company in the e-commerce sector.”