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This partnership with the SP Jain School of Global Management involves engaging MBA students in research and applied projects designed to address real-world challenges in the retail sector. The goal is to translate academic findings into practical, implementable solutions that support the Cooperative Society's future directions.
Mr Ziad Hammami, Executive Director of the Retail Sector, stated that this collaboration aligns with Sharjah Cooperative Society's vision of strengthening the partnership between academia and the retail sector. It also aims to leverage cutting-edge research concepts in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, empower young talent, and cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of driving the development of the retail sector.
Hammami added: “This collaboration reflects Sharjah Cooperative’s commitment to investing in knowledge and adopting innovation as a core principle. Academic partnerships are a fundamental pillar in developing institutional performance and enhancing competitiveness.”
Hammami continued: “At Sharjah Cooperative, we believe that developing the retail sector begins with transforming academic ideas and scientific research into practical, applicable solutions. Through our collaboration with MBA students from the SP Jain School of Global Management, we aim to leverage new insights and innovative models based on the latest concepts of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. These projects have presented practical ideas that will contribute to improving customer experience and enhancing the cooperative’s competitiveness in the coming years.”
Mr Faisal Al Naboodah, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Sharjah Cooperative, explained that the research comprised two main projects. The first project focused on digital transformation, where students addressed the gap between social media engagement and the shift to purchasing decisions. They presented a comprehensive model for a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels, along with proposals to activate loyalty programs by addressing awareness gaps and utilising home delivery services as an incentive to boost customer loyalty.
The second project focused on data and artificial intelligence applications. Students presented a roadmap, led by marketing teams, to achieve sustainable profit growth. This roadmap emphasised building an AI-powered demand planning system and establishing an advanced framework for precise personalisation, ultimately enhancing customer experience and boosting loyalty.
Professor Dr Umesh Kothari, Vice Dean at the SP Jain School of Global Management, said: “We are proud to collaborate with Sharjah Cooperative on this applied project, which provided our MBA students with the opportunity to work on real-world challenges in the retail sector and translate academic knowledge into strategic, value-added solutions.”
Kothari added that this experience reflects the school’s philosophy of integrating academic foundations with practical application, enabling students to develop their leadership and strategic skills in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Sharjah Cooperative Society affirmed that the outputs of these programmes were practical in nature, as they included implementable solutions and strategic plans extending to 2026 and beyond, which supports the cooperative’s orientation towards innovation and sustainable growth, and enhances its role as a leading institution in developing the retail sector.
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