{{Short description|Retail model}} '''Agile retail''' is a [[Direct selling|direct-to-consumer]] [[retail]] model that uses [[big data]] to try to predict trends, manage efficient production cycles, and faster turnaround on emerging styles.<ref name="BC">Nadya Khoja, [http://www.business.com/retail-and-restaurant/how-agile-retail-is-disrupting-the-fashion-industry/ "Changing Clothes: How Agile Retail is Disrupting the Fashion Industry"], ''business.com'', July 20, 2016.</ref> Agile retail applies concepts from Agile and Lean in the retail business, and aims to respond faster to customer needs. This retail model is used by [[Amazon.com|Amazon]]. The concept turns [[e-commerce]] retailers into on-demand platforms that identify stock and deliver desired products directly to the consumer. The main focus of Agile retail is to identify trends that are popular with consumers at a given moment and deliver those products using Agile production concepts.<ref name="HP">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-laws/can-this-new-industry-dis_b_9362344.html "Can This New Industry Disrupt Fast Fashion?"], ''huffingtonpost.com'', February 3, 2016.</ref>
Experts in the fashion industry argue that Agile retail is the next step for fashion retail, especially with rising online sales.<ref name="HP"/> Agile Retail gives more options to customers, usually at a lower price, and delivers the product directly to them.<ref name="HP"/> Agile retail is a new form of fast fashion that applies the concepts of “Agile” and “Lean” in the fashion retail business.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} It is also all about serving customers better by aligning to their changing needs.<ref name="AR">[http://www.agileretailing.com.au/what-we-do/ "Agile Retailing?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301120702/http://www.agileretailing.com.au/what-we-do/ |date=2015-03-01 }}, ''agileretailing.com'',.</ref>
==History== The Agile ideology can be traced back to the [[Lean manufacturing]] principles developed at [[Toyota]] in the 1950s.<ref name="Agile">{{cite web|url=https://kurtuhlir.com/agile-retail-direct-to-consumer/|title= From Factory Floors to Software Development: Tracing Agile's Toyota Roots| website= kurtuhlir.com }}</ref> Lean manufacturing focuses on eliminating waste in the manufacturing process. The basic intention is to maximize efficiency during manufacturing with a view to enhance productivity and lower costs. Back then, the Agile retail concept was applied mainly to the manufacturing of hard goods such as automobiles.<ref name="Agile"/>
In recent years Agile retail, especially in the fashion industry, capitalizes on many of the principles that have made other stalwart tech companies successful in their respective industries.<ref name="BC"/>
In a traditional fashion company, a designer creates an entire collection usually based on his or her inspiration.<ref name="BC"/> The Germany-based online retailer [[Lesara]] has been using the concept of agile retail in the fashion industry.<ref name="INS">[https://insights.samsung.com/2016/07/19/lesara-uses-agile-management-and-data-to-meet-retail-fashion-trends/ "Lesara Uses Agile Management and Data to Meet Retail Fashion Trends"], ''insights.samsung.com'',.</ref>
==Processes== Agile retail uses big data to try to estimate what customers want and anticipate demand and quantities.<ref>[https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/2768343 "Reasons Why Big Data Is The Next Big Thing In The Fashion Industry"], ''entrepreneur.com'',.</ref>
Agile retail companies are able to respond more quickly to changing circumstances using the data from this process. The aim is to know consumer needs at any given point.<ref name="HP"/><ref>Mark Collin, [https://www.thoughtworks.com/insights/blog/future-retail-agile-retail-development "Future of Retail: Agile Retail Development"], ''thoughtworks.com'',.</ref> The Agile enterprise emphasizes iteration over perfection, the ability to move quickly and to constantly learn and adapt.<ref>Jason Wallis, Mozu, [https://venturebeat.com/2015/10/20/3-ways-retailers-can-learn-from-the-agile-movement-and-get-bolder-and-faster/ "3 ways retailers can learn from the Agile movement — and get bolder and faster"], ''venturebeat.com'', October 20, 2015.</ref>
==Advantages== * Using big data to figure out faster what the consumer wants.<ref name="INS"/> * Ability to respond to changing needs faster than traditional retail.{{dubious|date=August 2019}} * Aim to personalize shopper's demands.<ref name="INS"/> * Intense use of big data and data analysis.{{dubious|date=August 2019}} * More efficient supply chain, reducing waste.<ref name="INS"/>
==Disadvantages== * Agile retail relies partially on traditional retailers, especially luxury retailers, in setting trends which are used as inspiration.<ref>[http://study.com/academy/lesson/agile-methodology-benefits-disadvantages.html "Agile Methodology: Benefits & Disadvantages"], ''study.com'',</ref>
==See also== * [[Agile management]] * [[Agile software development]] * [[Fast fashion]]
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Retail processes and techniques]] {{Improve categories|date=March 2024}}