Retail is undergoing profound change, driven by digitalization, shifting consumer behavior, and recurring crises. Small and medium-sized retailers face the challenge of using limited resources to leverage digital technologies, strengthen resilience, and remain customer-focused. This work examines how digital transformation reshapes the retail value chain, the opportunities and risks that arise, and the capabilities required to stay competitive.

The work also explores consumer behavior, both in times of crisis and among vulnerable groups such as children. It analyzes how external...