Data-Driven Next-Generation Retail Strategy from LC Waikiki
LC Waikiki is implementing a comprehensive digital transformation across its design, production, and supply processes through technology investments exceeding $20 million in recent years, along with AI-based applications.
According to the company’s statement, LC Waikiki adopts a technology-focused operating model that views retail not merely as product development and sales processes. As part of its digital transformation initiatives, the company has reduced the cycle from design to store to as little as six weeks, managing its operations through a digitally driven infrastructure.
Its multi-layered structure — consisting of data centers, cloud infrastructure, and AI-supported inventory management — enables the digital monitoring and management of numerous processes, from design to the supply chain. The company integrates real-time analysis of customer feedback and sales data directly into its product development processes.
As part of these technology investments, LC Waikiki commissioned a data center at its headquarters in Bağcılar, Istanbul, with an investment of approximately $4 million. Additionally, a $2 million investment was made to relocate its disaster recovery center in Ankara to a new facility, strengthening business continuity and data security processes.
The company has also established a cloud-based infrastructure to centrally manage its e-commerce operations across 21 countries. With an investment of approximately $20 million, this system enables LC Waikiki to operate its digital channels in different countries through a unified platform.
AI-Powered Transformation: LCWGPT
A key component of the company’s digital transformation is its proprietary AI platform, “LCWGPT.” Actively used across the organization, the platform allows employees in various departments to leverage AI-based tools for data analysis, reporting, and decision-support processes. Through these applications, LC Waikiki aims to position technology not only within operational processes but as a natural part of everyday workflows.
Software teams utilize AI-assisted tools in coding processes, with approximately 40% of developed code generated with the support of these tools, according to company data. Through robotic process automation and the digitalization of routine tasks, the company aims to redirect employees toward more analytical and design-focused roles. On the infrastructure side, cloud-based systems continue to support global e-commerce operations.
Data-Driven Store and Supply Management
In physical stores, anonymous data is used to analyze aisle and product placement, while user behavior data from digital channels is regularly evaluated to inform stock, product, and supply planning.
The company’s “Customer Radar” system identifies real-time demand for products that are unavailable in stores or digital channels and directs this data into production and supply processes. The system also aims to reintroduce high-demand products to sales channels more quickly.
For in-store operations, the locally developed WPOS software has been implemented, resulting in up to a 40% improvement in checkout processing times. As of March 2026, approximately 4,500 cash registers across Türkiye are expected to operate with this system, with plans to expand it to all 8,000 registers worldwide by the end of 2026.
“Competition in Retail Is No Longer Limited to Product Variety and Price”
Şerafettin Özer, General Manager of Digital Transformation and Information Technologies at LC Waikiki, stated that competition in retail is no longer limited to product variety and pricing.
Emphasizing that speed, data, and the ability to make timely decisions are becoming increasingly decisive, Özer noted: “At LC Waikiki, we position technology not as a supporting element but at the very core of how we do business. Our ability to analyze customer expectations across different countries based on data has been instrumental in reducing the design-to-store cycle to six weeks.”
Highlighting their AI-based tools, Özer added: “Our primary goal is not to replace people with technology, but to support employees’ decision-making processes with data.”
