Innovation in information systems applied to the shoes retail business

Abstract

Innovation is undoubtedly an essential part of the business process. Innovation management is as important as quality management and customer relationship management for the company success, independently of the business area. Computer-Aided Innovation is emerging as a strategic domain of research and application to support enterprises throughout the overall innovation process. CAI systems should begin at the creative stage of identifying business opportunities and customer demands, then continue helping in developing phases and, further on, providing help up to the point of turning those inventions into successful inno- vations in the market. In retail business, the way the offer is presented to customers is as important as product quality, and it is this combined service that is the main purpose for innovative solutions. Shoe retail business is a significant example where combining creative possibilities with technology-based applications makes it possible to introduce innovation in this branch of activity, particularly in the Portuguese business structure, characterized by the prominence of large shopping malls where the service itself gains an increased meaning. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.