Ready-to-Wear Sector Takes a Step Into the Metaverse

Kiğılı, which is planning a 50 million TL investment in technology, start-ups and ecosystem to manage its retail processes, is preparing to offer these applications to Turkey's retail sector. The brand is also stepping into the metaverse universe. Kiğılı, which has worked in ready-made apparel retail and e-commerce for many years, announced four of its technologies at a press conference held at a hotel in Istanbul. One of the four technologies and a Kiğılı spin-off, "QualisICT Technology," optimizes all processes through artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies; "Octopus Technology" integrates screen management with artificial intelligence to create personalized opportunities, while "RPA Technology" enables repetitive business processes to be managed seamlessly 24/7. The brand, which will soon enter the metaverse universe, is planning to invest 50 million TL in technology. Hilal Suerdem, Vice Chairman of Kiğılı's Board of Directors, commenting on the company's technology investments, stated: "In today's world, it is quite difficult for brands to remain afloat solely by following current fashion trends without developing themselves and investing in technology. The digital transformation experienced in recent years is actually important proof of this. When we consider new generation technologies today, all companies, especially retail companies, have become small technology firms. We have made our technology moves on this path we started three years ago with the vision of continuing our leadership and pioneering in men's apparel retail in the field of technology as well. As Kiğılı, we have four active technology investments that we have worked on for many years. As of early 2022, we targeted a budget of 50 million TL for our technology ecosystem. However, our investments are not limited to this. With the motto of strategic planning and the right place at the right time, we will continue to take investor and game-maker positions in the fashion industry," he said.

Corporate entrepreneurial spirit created QualisICT

Suerdem, noting that technology investments with the pandemic are shaped according to changing user experiences, said: "Kiğılı's spin-off QualisICT Technology significantly strengthened our position in the retail sector. QualisICT Technology, which develops products in retail and e-commerce technologies, is a 100 percent Kiğılı initiative positioned in Technology Valley and has a structure managed entirely with start-up spirit. With two separate services, Retail Suite and Q-Commerce, this technology allows us to solve problems that arise especially between field and headquarters in the retail sector through digitalization. Among the solutions offered within the Retail Suite platform are 'supply chain management,' 'shift optimization,' 'target distribution,' and 'Demand Management Platform.' Q-Commerce, on the other hand, provides the opportunity to manage inventory, orders, sales and logistics operations in B2B, B2C and especially global marketplaces from a single platform in an optimized and lean manner. In this way, we simplify global processes and remove barriers to entering more markets," he said.

Technology-based business solutions with increased efficiency and personalized opportunities

Noting that investments in Octopus Technology and RPA Technology, alongside QualisICT, provide an opportunity to deliver the right service in the most technological way, Suerdem stated the following: "Octopus caught our attention because it is an innovative approach in the retail sector. We tested this patented technology in both Turkish and foreign stores. Screen management actually creates a cost advantage, but the real motivation in Octopus is to develop a product that has no equivalent globally. Analyzing who is looking at the screens and then providing personalized content and campaigns with artificial intelligence support is at the forefront. Through RPA, we also enable daily periodic business processes to run in the healthiest way. As you know, repetitive processes keep employees away from other tasks that require uniquely human abilities such as emotional intelligence, reasoning, judgment, and customer interaction. Through the Zozi 360 platform developed by RPA, we enable the automation of numerous continuous repetitive tasks with clearly defined rules and logic through digital robots. This system works 24/7 to automate repetitive business processes. By using the potential our employees have, we create time for them to focus on high value-added work."

Kiğılı soon enters the metaverse universe

Speaking about Kiğılı's new investment moves, Suerdem said: "We took our place as an early-stage and second investor in GoArt. We will soon display our NFT collections on this platform. Currently, we are working on innovative designs for our collections that will adapt to the virtual world. In the near future, we will take our place in the metaverse world and accompany users in this world through our virtual stores."

"We know retailing better than Europeans"

Kiğılı Board Chairman Abdullah Kiğılı, noting that exports in ready-made apparel are increasing day by day, stated: "It appears quite possible that in the very near future we will export 2 billion dollars monthly and 24 billion dollars annually. Our biggest concern right now is production. We need to increase production very rapidly. We know this business very well. We follow fashion well. We know how to create collections well. We know retailing so well that we have reached a point where we know everything better than Europeans." Source