Workshop Description
Executive introduction to quantum computing for retail and logistics leaders. Covers where quantum algorithms apply to retail problems, honest NISQ hardware assessment, quantum-inspired alternatives, and strategic readiness without overspending.
Quantum computing vendors are making bold claims about retail and logistics applications. Some of those claims have substance. Most need qualification. This workshop cuts through the marketing to explain what quantum computers actually do, which retail and logistics problems are genuinely quantum-amenable (optimisation, certain ML tasks, simulation, and cryptographic security), and where the technology stands today versus the fault-tolerant horizon of 2028-2032. No physics background is required. Participants leave with a clear vocabulary for evaluating vendor proposals, a framework for identifying candidate problems within their own operations, and an honest assessment of when to invest in quantum exploration versus waiting. The session also covers quantum-inspired classical solvers that are deployable immediately and deliver competitive results on many of the same problem types.
What participants cover
- Quantum computing fundamentals: qubits, superposition, entanglement, and quantum gates explained without physics prerequisites
- Four retail/logistics application classes: combinatorial optimisation, quantum-enhanced ML, supply chain simulation, and post-quantum cryptographic security
- Hardware reality check: current NISQ devices (100-1000 noisy qubits), error rates, and what problem sizes they can handle today
- Quantum-inspired alternatives: classical solvers (Fujitsu Digital Annealer, Toshiba SQBM+) deployable now without quantum hardware access
- Fault-tolerant timeline: 2028-2032 estimates for error-corrected machines and what they unlock at retail scale
- Strategic readiness: identifying candidate problems, evaluating vendor claims critically, and deciding when to invest versus wait