Retail AI Data Analytics Workshop Recap | INSPIRE x HKRMA x HKPC (2026)

On 14 August 2026, INSPIRE Education served as the training partner for the "Power Up Retail with AI and Big Data" workshop — organised by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA), delivered with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and funded by the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund (TSF). This one-day, five-hour hands-on workshop brought together 25 senior managers and business owners across jewellery & watch, F&B and food manufacturing, retail chains, trading & export, beauty & health, and enterprise-support sectors.

Retail AI workshop — organised by HKRMA, delivered with HKPC, funded by TSF

From Data to Decisions: A Framework You Can Use Today

For retail and SME leaders, the real question about AI isn't "what is it?" — it's "how do I apply it to my business?" Led by Silver Wong and Alex Kwok, the workshop was built around exactly that, turning complex technology into a decision framework participants could apply the very same day.

The morning grounded everyone in retail data fundamentals through a four-step approach — understand the business model, calculate customer lifetime value (LTV), analyse the marketing funnel, and execute tactics. Participants learned to diagnose conversion "leaks" so ad budget isn't wasted on broken landing pages. The "Right Job → Right Metrics → Right Tools → Right Data" framework then helped them choose sensibly between Power BI, Looker, Tableau and Julius AI, matched to decision speed and data sensitivity.

A trainer walks the room through Hong Kong border-reopening passenger data, demonstrating the analysis approach live

Building Hands-On: A Retail App with Base44

The most popular segment was a guided build — creating a working retail application from scratch. Using Base44 with the SWDCA framework (Stakeholders, Workflow, Data, Control, Authentication), participants digitalised a traditional business, then applied the E.A.T. testing framework (End-to-End, Access, Traffic/Load) to ensure reliability before real customers touch the system. Finally, they connected the app's data straight into Looker Studio and GA4 to build automated operational scorecards.

Participants build hands-on with laptops, breaking down business workflows on a shared collaboration board

Generative AI in Decisions: The C.O.D.A.D. Prompt Framework

The afternoon went deep on weaving generative AI into everyday decisions. The C.O.D.A.D. framework (Context, Objective, Deliverable, Approach, Do & Don'ts) taught participants to write strategist-level prompts instead of vague requests, with a live comparison of Gemini, ChatGPT and Julius AI on real retail cases.

The session broke down three distinct decision rhythms and risks: FMCG runs weekly/monthly, where the key risk is sell-in and offtake diverging; Fast Food runs hourly/daily, where demand and operational capacity can diverge; and E-commerce runs real-time/daily, where traffic and conversion can split — burning ad budget on users who churn. Each came with a real dashboard case showing how to spot the "divergence gap" and act on it.

Data Governance: Comply First, Then Go to the Cloud

Governance took centre stage too. Participants received five critical questions to ask before uploading proprietary data to any AI tool, alongside a strong reminder on PDPO compliance for SMEs. They were also cautioned about the "AI Cost Paradox" — that roughly 80% of the real work lies in refining prompts, correcting assumptions and managing security, not the first output.

What Participants Said: 100% Satisfaction

The results showed in the feedback (16 responses, 64% response rate):

1. 100% found the content helpful to their company
2. 100% felt the workshop format was suitable
3. 100% found the speakers suitable
4. 100% overall satisfaction (37.5% very satisfied, 62.5% quite satisfied — zero negative)
5. 93.3% said they would apply the advice to daily operations
6. 87.5% saw long-term benefit to their company's / industry's competitiveness

The most consistent piece of feedback? Participants wanted more — more time and more hands-on practice, with several noting "two days would be better." For a training team, there's no more encouraging signal than a room that wants to keep going.

About INSPIRE Education

INSPIRE Education is the education brand of Coxana Innovation Limited, delivering hands-on AI and STEM training for schools and enterprises. We believe the most effective learning comes from building — from the very first session, participants create something of their own. To explore a tailored AI training programme for your organisation, contact admin@coxana.com.