The concept of retail has undergone a profound transformation, moving far beyond the confines of a traditional brick-and-mortar store. Today, retail represents a sophisticated, interconnected ecosystem that seamlessly blends physical spaces, digital platforms, diverse services, and constant customer touchpoints. Modern consumers fluidly navigate between physical stores, mobile applications, and online marketplaces, fundamentally altering the mechanisms through which retail businesses expand and vie for market dominance.
The New Retail Paradigm: Data, Digital, and Growth
As both Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) models experience exponential scaling, retail leaders are compelled to manage critical functions—including pricing strategies, inventory control, merchandising, and customer experience design—with unprecedented precision and agility. At the heart of this operational shift lie data analytics, digital tools, and artificial intelligence, which now drive core decision-making processes. These technologies are instrumental in shaping demand forecasting, assortment planning, and personalised customer engagement strategies.
This digital transformation is unfolding against the backdrop of a monumental industry expansion in India. The nation's retail sector is projected to surge from approximately ₹81 lakh crore in 2024 to nearly ₹137 lakh crore (around US$ 1.6 trillion) by the year 2030. Notably, the organised retail segment is poised to more than double in size during this period. In this dynamic and evolving landscape, AI-powered tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs) that influence purchasing decisions, are catalysing retail's evolution into a powerful convergence of data intelligence, strategic foresight, and deep consumer behavioural insight.
Introducing the Executive Programme in Integrated Retail Management (EPIRM)
Recognising the rapid evolution of the retail landscape and the growing imperative for leaders capable of holistic thinking across formats, channels, and technologies in B2C and D2C enterprises, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), in association with TalentSprint, Part of Accenture, has launched the Executive Programme in Integrated Retail Management (EPIRM). TalentSprint will serve as the digital delivery and outreach partner for this pioneering initiative.
This future-ready programme synthesises IIM Calcutta's renowned academic rigour with practical, cutting-edge industry insights, meticulously preparing participants to lead with confidence in a sector undergoing continuous change. The EPIRM is designed to equip professionals to lead across the entire consumer business ecosystem, where strategy, operations, merchandising, technology, consumer psychology, and customer experience intersect. It moves beyond traditional retail paradigms to reflect the operational realities of modern consumer businesses, which function across integrated physical, digital, and service-led models.
A Curriculum for Modern Retail Leadership
The programme's curriculum masterfully blends foundational business concepts with the emerging shifts that are reshaping B2C and D2C businesses. Delivered through immersive, interactive sessions led by IIM Calcutta's distinguished faculty and seasoned industry practitioners, the learning experience is deeply engaging. Participants will grapple with contemporary case studies and real-world insights that mirror the intricate complexity of today's global consumer markets.
The IIM Calcutta Advantage
Powered by IIM Calcutta's academic excellence and its prestigious Triple Crown accreditation (AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB), this programme offers a globally benchmarked and intensely industry-relevant learning experience. IIM Calcutta is consistently ranked as India's number one business school by leading surveys, including the BT-MDRA Best B-School Survey 2023, Fortune India Best B-School Survey 2023, and Open Magazine Best B-School Survey 2024. The institute is also ranked first in India for pedagogical experience by the Financial Times. Globally, IIM Calcutta holds the distinction of being the only Indian school in the CEMS global alliance, connecting participants to a network of top international schools, corporations, and NGOs.
As India's only comprehensive Integrated Retail Management Programme, EPIRM offers a uniquely holistic and future-ready pathway for professionals aspiring to ascend into strategic, leadership roles within the retail and consumer business domain.
What Distinguishes the EPIRM Programme
Live Learning with IIM Calcutta Faculty and Industry Experts: Every class session combines the academic depth of IIM Calcutta's renowned faculty with the practical, ground-level insights of senior industry leaders. This ensures high-impact learning that is both intellectually rigorous and immediately applicable to real-world B2C and D2C business contexts.
A Comprehensive New-Age Curriculum: Integrated with dedicated modules on Artificial Intelligence, the programme covers the full spectrum of modern retail and consumer business management. This includes in-depth study of retail formats, corporate strategy, marketing communication, financial management, shopper behaviour analytics, and digital commerce. This integrated pedagogical approach helps professionals develop a broad, interconnected understanding of the retail ecosystem, equipping them to act decisively and confidently across functions, channels, and business models.
Digital and AI-Driven Retail Transformation: Participants gain hands-on, practical exposure to the digital tools, advanced analytics, and AI technologies that are actively reshaping forecasting, personalisation, supply chain operations, and customer engagement across both physical and online channels. They learn strategic applications of these technologies to drive sustainable growth, enhance customer experiences, and support robust, data-driven decision-making in today's competitive retail landscape.
Hands-On Practical Learning: Real-world application is central to the EPIRM learning philosophy. Through practical assignments, intensive case exercises, and a hands-on capstone project, participants significantly strengthen their ability to analyse complex business challenges, devise innovative solutions, and implement impactful strategies in live retail and consumer business scenarios.
Campus Visits to IIM Calcutta: The programme features two immersive campus visits, each scheduled for three days at the IIM Calcutta campus. These visits facilitate invaluable in-person interactions, deeper academic engagement, and rich peer-to-peer learning. They allow participants to fully experience IIM Calcutta's vibrant academic culture, connect meaningfully with faculty members, and build lasting professional networks with fellow participants.
Programme Outcomes and Eligibility
Upon successful completion, participants receive a prestigious IIM Calcutta certification and earn Executive Education Alumni Status, thereby joining a powerful and influential network of over 33,000 professionals. This lifelong community offers significant credibility, valuable connections, and continuous opportunities for professional growth.
Key learning outcomes include the ability to leverage data, digital tools, and AI to optimise pricing, inventory, merchandising, and overarching business decisions. Participants will learn to build and manage sophisticated omnichannel retail models that seamlessly integrate physical stores with digital channels. They will also acquire skills in designing innovative store layouts and customer experiences that positively influence shopper behaviour and drive sales growth. Furthermore, the programme develops the ability to create compelling, customer-centric strategies that enhance brand differentiation, foster customer loyalty, and accelerate business growth, applying analytical and strategic thinking to tangible retail challenges.
This programme is ideally suited for B2C and D2C sales or marketing professionals across industries seeking to deepen their expertise; retail, merchandising, category management, or e-commerce professionals aiming to enhance their capabilities; entrepreneurs and business owners focused on building or scaling retail-led ventures; and corporate nominees being fast-tracked into leadership roles.
Eligibility: Applicants must be graduates with a minimum of two years of work experience and have secured a minimum of 50% marks in their graduation or post-graduation.
Key Programme Highlights
- Programme Commencement: March 2026
- Duration: 9 Months
- Format: Live Online sessions, designed to be executive-friendly with evening classes
- Campus Visit: Two visits of 3 days each
- Financing: Easy and flexible payment options are supported
Shaping India's Retail Future
As consumer behaviour continues to evolve at a rapid pace, reliance on traditional retail models alone is insufficient for future success. The future unequivocally belongs to leaders and organisations that can master omnichannel thinking, expertly blending physical stores, e-commerce platforms, AI-driven analytics, and data-enabled customer engagement strategies. The Executive Programme in Integrated Retail Management (EPIRM) by IIM Calcutta serves as a critical launchpad for working professionals and entrepreneurs who are ready to embrace this transformation. It provides them with practical frameworks, actionable insights, and a strong professional network to navigate the future. Whether an individual is managing store operations, heading merchandising divisions, running a B2C or D2C venture, or shaping customer experience across multiple channels, this programme offers the essential tools, knowledge, and capabilities to grow, innovate, and make a measurable, lasting impact in the world of retail.
