Bridging Retail and AI: Skills4Retail at the Euroguidance Conference 2024

This year, the Euroguidance Conference in Vienna brought together experts from across Europe to explore “The Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Career Guidance and Counselling.” As the international landscape of career counselling evolves with AI, the conference provided a unique platform for exchanging innovative ideas and exploring the future of workforce development.

Though the core focus of the conference centred around AI in career guidance, it presented a unique opportunity for Skills4Retail to engage with a professional audience deeply invested in the intersections of technology, education, and workforce optimization. Our presence at the conference, represented by WIFI International Project Manager Nadine Schönstedt, aimed to extend the reach of Skills4Retail and emphasize its importance in transforming retail sector workforce development.

Nadine, alongside numerous career guidance professionals, educators, policymakers, and researchers, explored the transformative implications of AI on personalized guidance strategies and workforce development. Despite the overarching theme of AI, the relevance of Skills4Retail resonated through its potential to integrate emerging technologies in retail training and development.

At the conference, Skills4Retail was showcased via a strategically placed poster on the fair’s pinboard. This visual representation captured the essence of our project and piqued the interest of attendees, leading to engaging conversations about the role of Skills4Retail in enhancing career pathways within the retail sector. Nadine provided an overview of our project’s objectives and its pivotal role in the industry, sparking interest and discussion among a diverse group of professionals.

These interactions were significant. They highlighted the curiosity and eagerness of career guidance experts to learn about sector-specific applications of AI and technological advancements. The discussions around Skills4Retail not only increased our visibility but also underscored the potential synergies between AI in career counselling and sector-specific workforce development.

The 2024 was a testament to the growing importance of interdisciplinary approaches in career guidance. For Skills4Retail, it was a step forward in aligning with global trends and showcasing our commitment to harnessing technology for empowering retail professionals. As we continue to navigate the interface of retail and technology, participation in such conferences ensures that Skills4Retail remains at the forefront of discussions on future skills and workforce strategies.