Ikea Established "China Digital Innovation Center" In Shanghai

Swedish furniture and home supplies retailer Ikea recently announced to establish "China Digital Innovation Center" in Shanghai.

It is said that the innovation center will focus on 3D design service, mobile solution, app design and development, social media, big data application, and customer experience sectors. It is expected to have up to 200 employees. Currently, Ikea Group has about 2,000 to 3,000 IT staff around the world.

Ikea Group's global senior digital technology director Yu Fuquan said that they hope to further expand their Chinese business by digital transformation; meanwhile, they plan to promote good digital products developed by the innovation center to the group and share with other markets.

He also said that China's retail industry has leading innovation ability in the digital economic sector in the world and Chinese consumers are enthusiastic about digital marketing. Therefore, Ikea will be where the consumers are.

By the end of the 2018 financial year, Ikea China's sales accounted for about 6% of the total sales of the group and it became Ikea's fifth largest market in the world.