SAP and VF Corporation open AI-powered fashion store in Walldorf
SAP and VF Corporation have opened S.Fashion, a retail innovation space at SAP’s headquarters in Walldorf that connects AI-enabled shopping experiences with end-to-end retail operations. The store uses products from The North Face, Vans and Timberland to test how intelligent technology can support consumers and store teams.
- S.Fashion is located at SAP’s headquarters in Walldorf.
- The store features products from The North Face, Vans and Timberland.
- Joule guides shoppers through discovery, navigation and checkout.
- Selected operating hours will run without staff on site.
- SAP and VF will use the store to test connected retail processes.
A connected retail operation
S.Fashion brings together Industry AI, SAP applications, automation and connected hardware across inventory, order management, pricing, fulfillment and replenishment. According to SAP, item-level RFID data and robotics support a connected flow across inventory, orders, pricing, promotions and replenishment.
AI agents are designed to interpret events and coordinate next steps across processes, while people retain oversight of operating rules and exceptions. A customer can discover products, explore personalization and virtual try-on options, and create an order. That order can initiate item retrieval, customization, packing, payment and collection. The transaction then updates inventory and can trigger replenishment without manual handoffs between separate systems.
SAP CEO Christian Klein said: “The Autonomous Enterprise becomes real when AI can understand business context and act across connected processes.” He added that S.Fashion shows how applications, data and Industry AI can work together across an operation while keeping people in control.
AI features span the shopper journey
The store links its physical environment with a digital journey in a mobile app. Joule, part of SAP Business AI Platform, guides consumers from store entry and product discovery to in-store navigation and checkout.
At a personalization station, shoppers can turn a sketch and prompt into AI-generated artwork for embroidery. The customized garment is then embroidered, packed and placed in a personal locker for pickup. A holographic virtual try-on allows consumers to check fit, color and overall look without changing clothes.
In fitting rooms, item recognition and a smart mirror recommend sizes, matching products and styling ideas. Consumers can request another size without leaving the room. If they opt in, their preferences and past interactions can shape curated looks and increasingly relevant recommendations.
A live test environment for SAP and VF
SAP and VF Corporation are using S.Fashion as a live environment to study how AI, intelligent automation and physical retail work together. During selected hours, the store operates autonomously, with no staff on site. The companies say this will let them explore different retail models using the same underlying technology and processes.
VF Corporation Vice President of Global ERP Technology Sujay Kumar said the store provides an opportunity to turn retail innovation into “real-world learning.” He said the insights will help the company learn faster, focus on what works and scale solutions across its brands.
S.Fashion will be open to SAP employees and their friends and families, as well as customers and partners through arranged visits. For users, the project offers a working demonstration of shopping, personalization and fulfillment connected through shared retail data. For the companies, it provides a setting to assess how processes can recognize change, coordinate action across functions and support new commercial models.
SAP: SAP and VFC Open Intelligent Fashion Store
