The European project INAiR - Increasing the Uptake of AI in Retail - has officially launched its new multilingual e-learning platform, offering retail micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Europe access to practical training on Artificial Intelligence.

Developed with the support of the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, the platform is accessible at https://app.ai4retail.eu.

Designed specifically for the retail ecosystem, the INAiR platform assists business owners, managers, and employees in comprehending, evaluating, and implementing AI solutions in their daily operations, irrespective of their prior technical expertise.

The platform launch marks a major milestone for the INAiR consortium, bringing together partners from Italy, Poland, Romania, Germany and Cyprus with expertise in AI, digital innovation, education and retail transformation.

Bridging the AI skills gap in retail

Across Europe, retail businesses are under increasing pressure to digitalise operations, personalise customer experiences and improve efficiency. Yet many MSMEs still face barriers to AI adoption, including limited digital skills, lack of tailored training opportunities and uncertainty about how AI can create value in real business environments.

The INAiR project was created to address these challenges directly.

Drawing upon extensive research conducted by the Digital Economy Lab of the University of Warsaw across five European countries, the consortium developed a dedicated AI learning ecosystem tailored for retail MSMEs. Central to this system is a training curriculum structured around practical retail scenarios, personalised learning pathways and role-based educational content.

The platform integrates the following components:

• an AI Skills Assessment Tool,

• personalised learning recommendations,

• 16 modular training units,

• interactive Open Educational Resources (OERs),

• self-assessment activities,

• real-world retail case studies,

• and facilitator tools for trainers and VET providers.

All resources are freely accessible and available in multiple European languages.

A personalised approach to AI learning

The INAiR environment adapts learning pathways according to each participant’s role, level of experience and organisational context.

Whether users work in sales, customer service, logistics, HR, marketing, operations or management, the system recommends targeted modules aligned with their professional needs and level of AI maturity.

The programme covers topics ranging from introductory AI concepts and data-driven decision making to AI-powered customer engagement, inventory optimisation, trustworthy AI and AI-enabled business intelligence.

Pilot phase confirms strong demand and positive impact

The e-learning programme underwent a pilot implementation between March and April 2026 across Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Romania, involving retail professionals spanning a broad spectrum of business functions and organisational profiles.

The pilot involved over 240 users and generated highly positive results. Feedback received from participants indicated a strong perception of value and practical applicability:

• 88% reported improved understanding of AI in retail,

• 85% said the programme increased their confidence in adopting AI solutions,

• 84% considered the training highly relevant to real retail scenarios,

• and 72% stated they intend to integrate AI tools or approaches into their work.

External experts also provided a highly favourable evaluation of the programme:

• 97% rated the content as relevant to the requirements of retailers,

• 98% deemed the modules clear and systematically structured,

• and 96% indicated they would recommend the programme to retailers contemplating AI adoption.

Participants particularly appreciated the practical orientation of the content, the clarity of the learning pathways and the use of real-world retail examples.

Contributing to Europe’s digital transition

Beyond the platform itself, INAiR contributes to the wider European efforts aimed at strengthening digital resilience, competitiveness, and workforce readiness within the retail sector.

The project supports retailers not only in understanding AI technologies, but also in developing the confidence and strategic awareness needed to integrate them responsibly and effectively.

Alongside the platform, the consortium has also released a dedicated Practical Guide for Facilitators to support trainers, VET providers, chambers of commerce and business support organisations in delivering AI education within retail contexts with the support of the project results.

The INAiR e-learning platform is now openly accessible to retail MSMEs and training stakeholders throughout Europe.

For more information about the INAiR project and its contributions to the digital and green transformation of the retail sector, visit https://www.ai4retail.eu/en/contact.