Make smarter commercial decisions with AI
Connect sustainability, merchandising and buying with retail and ecommerce performance. Explore how AI supports decisions about what to sell, where, when and at what price.
AI for Merchandising, Buying, Retail & Ecommerce Performance
What to sell, where, when and at what price.
A practical module for fashion professionals who want to apply AI to assortment planning, buying, pricing, store intelligence and ecommerce experiences, while understanding sustainability and traceability considerations.
Module overview
Module 4 explores how AI can support commercial planning and customer experiences across fashion retail, ecommerce and distribution. Connect product and environmental data with assortment, inventory, pricing and channel decisions.
Day 1 brings together circularity and sustainability, Digital Product Passport, supply chain traceability and carbon footprint methodology with merchandising and buying. Topics include Open-to-Buy, allocation, replenishment, demand prediction, markdown optimisation and fashion KPIs.
Day 2 explores physical store operations, clienteling, ecommerce personalisation, product discovery, conversational commerce, payments and fraud detection. Practical labs help you create a merchandising plan and design an AI activation for a store or ecommerce experience. The module output is a commercial AI use case canvas.
Module key facts
Dates
13 and 20 November 2026
Live online + 12-month replay
Duration
6 teaching hours across two sessions
Session times
15:00–18:00 on both days
Timezone to be confirmed: the supplied programme labels these times CEST.
Language
English – English subtitles. Other languages available on demand.
Practical outputs
AI-supported merchandising plan and commercial AI use case canvas
Enrolment
Contact us for module availability, fees and enrolment details.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Connect sustainability data with commercial decisions: understand the role of Digital Product Passport, material tracking, traceability and environmental analytics.
- Assess merchandising and buying applications: explore AI-assisted assortment planning, Open-to-Buy, seasonal budgeting and in-season rebalancing.
- Evaluate inventory decisions: identify use cases for allocation, replenishment, stock balancing and demand prediction by market, store, channel and customer segment.
- Assess pricing opportunities: explore smart pricing, markdown optimisation, promotional planning and competitive price monitoring.
- Relate AI to fashion KPIs: consider sell-through, margin, full-price sell-out, stock turn and markdown rate.
- Explore store and omnichannel intelligence: assess applications for visual merchandising, shopper behaviour, clienteling and personalised experiences.
- Evaluate ecommerce experiences: understand recommendations, visual search, virtual try-on, conversational commerce and shopping assistants.
- Recognise transaction use cases: identify applications in payments, fraud detection, security and transaction processing.
- Design a commercial activation: develop an AI-supported merchandising plan and a use case canvas for an in-store or ecommerce experience.
AI for Merchandising, Buying, Retail & Ecommerce Performance Programme
Two sessions connect sustainability and commercial planning with retail, ecommerce and omnichannel performance.
Day 1: Circularity, Sustainability, Merchandising, Buying and Commercial Planning
13 Nov 2026 — 3 hours
- EU Digital Product Passport Regulation requirements, material tracking
Instructor: Giulio Salgaro (Edmond) - Supply Chain Traceability → visibility, risk mitigation, ethical sourcing
Instructor: Giulio Salgaro (Edmond) - Carbon Footprint Methodology → Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Scope 1-2-3, reporting standards (CSRD, GRI), AI for environmental data analytics
Instructor: Giulio Salgaro (Edmond) - Case discussion: luxury vs fast fashion vs sportswear — different AI priorities in merchandising
Instructor: To be confirmed - Practice lab: create a merchandising plan using AI support
Instructor: To be confirmed - AI for assortment planning and buying decisions; allocation, replenishment and stock balancing — challenges and how AI can help
Instructor: Matteo Trombetta - Open-to-Buy (OTB): AI-assisted range planning, seasonal budgeting and in-season rebalancing. AI-automated workflows: Complete the Look, cross-selling, automatic replenishment and photo studio planning (look creation from files and product codes)
Instructor: Matteo Trombetta - Demand prediction by market, store, channel and customer segment
Instructor: To be confirmed - Smart pricing, markdown optimisation, promotional planning and competitive intelligence and price monitoring
Instructor: To be confirmed - Fashion KPIs: sell-through, margin, full-price sell-out, stock turn and markdown rate
Instructor: To be confirmed
Day 2: Retail, Ecommerce and Omnichannel Performance
20 Nov 2026 — 3 hours
- AI for physical store operations: visual merchandising, traffic analysis, layout optimisation and in-store shopper behaviour
Instructor: Marcello Messina - AI for Store Intelligence, Clienteling & Luxury Omnichannel Experience
Instructor: Marcello Messina - AI for ecommerce personalisation and product recommendations
Instructor: Marcello Messina - Visual search, virtual try-on and assisted product discovery
Instructor: Riccardo Milani - Conversational commerce and AI shopping assistants
Instructor: Riccardo Milani - Under-the-radar AI: payments, fraud detection, security and transaction processing
Instructor: Nicola Ferro - Marketplaces, DTC and wholesale distribution: different AI use cases
Instructor: Andrea Dell’Olio - Practice lab: design an AI activation for in-store experience or ecommerce — participant’s choice
Instructor: Michela Petrinca (Calicantus) - Output: commercial AI use case canvas
Instructor: Michela Petrinca (Calicantus)
Benefits of applying AI to fashion commercial performance
Explore opportunities to improve product decisions, inventory planning and customer experiences.
- Plan more effectively: connect demand signals with assortment, buying and seasonal budgets.
- Support margin and stock performance: assess pricing, markdown, allocation and replenishment opportunities.
- Improve product discovery: explore recommendations, visual search and assisted shopping.
- Connect channels: consider store intelligence, clienteling and omnichannel experiences.
- Use sustainability data: connect traceability and environmental information with product and planning discussions.
Who is this module for?
Designed for fashion and luxury professionals responsible for merchandising, buying and commercial performance.
- Merchandisers, buyers, planners and inventory managers.
- Retail directors, store operations and clienteling professionals.
- Ecommerce, digital and omnichannel managers.
- Pricing, commercial and distribution teams.
- Sustainability and innovation professionals working with product and commercial teams.
Why choose this module?
Develop a connected view of AI from product planning to the shopping experience.
- Fashion-specific decisions: connect assortment, Open-to-Buy, pricing and stock performance.
- Different business models: compare priorities across luxury, fast fashion and sportswear, and use cases for marketplaces, DTC and wholesale.
- Practical application: create a merchandising plan and design an in-store or ecommerce AI activation.
- A useful output: structure a commercial AI use case canvas.
Learning experience & methodology
The module combines instructor-led sessions, case discussion and two practical labs.
- Explore Digital Product Passport, traceability and carbon footprint methodology.
- Examine assortment planning, Open-to-Buy, demand prediction and pricing use cases.
- Compare merchandising priorities across luxury, fast fashion and sportswear.
- Create a merchandising plan using AI support.
- Explore store intelligence, ecommerce discovery, personalisation and transaction processing.
- Design an AI activation for an in-store or ecommerce experience, according to your interests.
Bring your ideas together in a commercial AI use case canvas.
Module instructors
Learn from sustainability, merchandising and retail specialists
The descriptions below reflect each instructor’s scheduled teaching topics. Sessions without a named instructor are marked as to be confirmed in the programme.
Giulio Salgaro
Digital Product Passport, material tracking, supply chain traceability, carbon footprint methodology and environmental data analytics.
Programme sponsor: Edmond
Matteo Trombetta
Assortment planning, buying, allocation, replenishment, Open-to-Buy and AI-supported commercial workflows.
Marcello Messina
Physical store operations, store intelligence, clienteling, luxury omnichannel experiences and ecommerce personalisation.
Riccardo Milani
Visual search, virtual try-on, assisted product discovery, conversational commerce and AI shopping assistants.
Nicola Ferro
Payments, fraud detection, security and transaction processing.
Andrea Dell’Olio
AI use cases for marketplaces, DTC and wholesale distribution.
Michela Petrinca
In-store or ecommerce AI activation lab and commercial AI use case canvas.
Programme sponsor: Calicantus
Executive Master in AI for Fashion
Build your skills within the Executive Master
This module forms part of the Executive Master in AI for Fashion. For certification requirements and any certificate available for standalone module participation, please contact Digital Fashion Academy.
Standalone module or full Executive Master
Choose this standalone module to develop focused capability in one area. Choose the full AI for Fashion Executive Master to connect use cases across the value chain and build an organisation-wide adoption roadmap.
Standalone module
Explore AI for merchandising, buying, retail and ecommerce performance. Contact us for module availability, fees and enrolment details.
- 6 hours focused on AI for Merchandising, Buying, Retail & Ecommerce Performance
- Module fee: €490
- 12-month replay access
- Module materials, exercises and certificate
Explore the Executive Master
Build a broader understanding of AI across the fashion value chain with the Executive Master in AI for Fashion.
- 48 hours across 8 modules
- Integrated coverage of the fashion value chain
- Cross-functional portfolio
- Final AI Adoption Roadmap
- Programme fee: €2,150
- Three mentoring sessions
FAQs
When does Module 4 take place?
The sessions are scheduled for 13 and 20 November 2026, from 15:00 to 18:00. Please confirm the timezone with Digital Fashion Academy: the supplied programme labels these times CEST.
How long is the module?
Six teaching hours across two sessions of three hours each.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes. Sessions are delivered live online and recordings remain available for 12 months.
Will I practise using AI?
Yes. Day 1 includes a lab to create a merchandising plan using AI support. Day 2 includes a lab to design an AI activation for an in-store or ecommerce experience. The module output is a commercial AI use case canvas.
Will I receive a certificate?
Participants who complete the module receive a module-specific certificate of attendance, distinct from the certificate for the full Executive Master.
Does the module cover sustainability?
Yes. Day 1 includes Digital Product Passport, material tracking, traceability, ethical sourcing, carbon footprint methodology and AI for environmental data analytics.
Does the module cover buying and Open-to-Buy?
Yes. Topics include assortment planning, buying decisions, allocation, replenishment, stock balancing, AI-assisted range planning, seasonal budgets and in-season rebalancing.
Does the module cover ecommerce and payments?
Yes. Day 2 includes personalisation, recommendations, visual search, virtual try-on, conversational commerce, payments, fraud detection, security and transaction processing.
Do I need technical knowledge?
No coding knowledge is required. The module is designed for fashion professionals and business leaders. A working knowledge of English is required.
What is included in the module fee?
Two live online sessions, 12-month recording access, learning materials, practical exercises and a module-specific certificate of attendance. Contact us to confirm fees and availability.
Is mentoring included?
The three individual mentoring sessions are included with the full Executive Master. Contact us for separate mentoring options.
Can I enrol in this module only?
Yes. Contact us using the form below for standalone module enrolment or team participation.
Where can I find the full Master programme?
Visit the Executive Master in AI for Fashion page.
AI for Merchandising, Buying, Retail & Ecommerce Performance — Contact us
Ask about Module 4, team participation or enrolment in the Executive Master in AI for Fashion.