On September 11, 2025, Oleksandr Voinalovych, Director of the R&D Department at Aurora’s multimarket chain, took part in a panel discussion at the RAU Workshop: “Digital Transformation of Physical Stores. How to Combine Technology, Data, and Sustainability.” The event brought together more than 75 representatives from various companies across the retail sector.

The RAU Workshop was organized by the Ukrainian Retail Association in partnership with Bizerba to discuss the industry’s key challenges: integrating digital technologies into physical stores, working with data, and maintaining sustainability principles. Panelists included Serhii Plakhtyria, CIO of Varus; Oleksandr Voinalovych, Director of R&D at Aurora; Ivan Slavioglo, Vice President of IT at Silpo; with Anton Denysenko, CEO of Bizerba Ukraine, as the moderator.

In his speech, Oleksandr Voinalovych shared how Aurora approaches the combination of digital solutions and customer experience. The company focuses not only on individual SKUs but on customer demand as a whole — thanks to its wide assortment, shoppers can always find an alternative. To enhance convenience, Aurora has introduced in-house–developed price checkers, with more than 30 available per store, allowing customers to quickly verify up-to-date prices. The team is also exploring hypotheses around implementing electronic shelf labels, which would further automate processes and minimize routine tasks for employees.

Participants agreed that the future of physical stores lies in automation, the use of AI agents, and creating conditions where technology supports both employees and customers. Once again, the RAU Workshop confirmed its role as a platform for dialogue among industry leaders to discuss real cases, challenges, and opportunities.