Research Program

Living Labs

City-based research environments where we test interventions, innovations, and policy changes in real-world shopping contexts with active community participation.

Active Living Labs

Lagos, Nigeria

Since 2023
Active
Research Focus
Mobile Payment Innovation
25,000+ participants
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São Paulo, Brazil

Since 2022
Active
Research Focus
Sustainable Commerce
32,000+ participants
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Mumbai, India

Since 2021
Active
Research Focus
Last-Mile Delivery
45,000+ participants
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Berlin, Germany

Since 2024
Active
Research Focus
Data Privacy UX
18,000+ participants
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Jakarta, Indonesia

Since 2023
Active
Research Focus
Social Commerce
38,000+ participants
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Mexico City, Mexico

Since 2022
Active
Research Focus
Financial Inclusion
28,000+ participants
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How Living Labs Work

1

Community Partnership

We work with local governments, businesses, and community organizations to establish a research lab that reflects the city's unique shopping ecosystem.

2

Intervention Design

Local teams design interventions or innovations to test—such as new payment systems, delivery models, or transparency tools—with input from residents.

3

Real-World Testing

Interventions are tested with thousands of real shoppers in authentic contexts, using rigorous experimental designs (RCTs when feasible).

4

Impact Measurement

We measure outcomes using surveys, transaction data, behavioral observations, and qualitative interviews to understand what works and why.

Featured Projects

Trust Labels for E-Commerce (São Paulo)

Testing standardized trust labels on product pages to help consumers make informed decisions. 78% of participants reported increased confidence.

Impact
Now being adopted by 120+ Brazilian retailers
Read Full Case Study →

Last-Mile Delivery Optimization (Mumbai)

Comparing different delivery models (hub-and-spoke, micro-fulfillment) for cost-effectiveness and environmental impact in dense urban areas.

Impact
Reduced delivery times by 32% while cutting emissions 18%
Read Full Case Study →

Mobile Wallet Financial Literacy (Lagos)

Providing in-app education about fees, security, and financial planning for first-time digital payment users.

Impact
Doubled retention rates and reduced fraud complaints 45%
Read Full Case Study →

Propose a Living Lab

Is your city interested in hosting a GCRI Living Lab? We're always looking for new partnerships with municipalities, research institutions, and community organizations.

Submit a Proposal