AI-Powered Shopping Personalisation at Walmart
Walmart is revolutionising the holiday shopping experience by leveraging AI and GenAI technologies across its platforms. These innovations aim to streamline the entire shopping process, from product discovery to purchase, ultimately saving busy customers time and money, so that they can concentrate on enjoying themselves.
Additionally, Walmart is harnessing AI to identify and vet social media influencers, curating their content on the Walmart.com homepage. This allows customers to discover trending items and seasonal must-haves recommended by their favourite content creators.
A shopping assistant and suite of GenAI search tools to help customers discover the perfect gift
The world’s biggest retailer operates a network of 10,500 stores in 19 countries under various names. Since it was founded in 1962, the company has worked hard to keep up with consumer demands using the latest technologies.
Now, the company has welcomed in its GenAI-powered shopping assistant, which lets customers discover, evaluate and decide on the best product suited to their needs. The tool is designed to respond in free-flowing conversations to make sure that customers feel confident in their purchases.
Using the GenAI search experience on Walmart.com or in the Walmart app, customers can browse based on specific use cases (for example, a gift for a certain age), which generates more relevant results, giving customers more ideas that they may not have had the time or the input to consider previously.
The shopping experience at Walmart is also being propelled by GenAI-powered product reviews, product summarisations and product comparisons. By using Walmart’s AI-driven comparison feature, customers are able to compare various models, for example, when searching for a kitchen appliance, so that their decisions can be made more quickly.
“As we continue to build the future of Adaptive Retail, Walmart is leveraging AI and GenAI tools to transform holiday shopping this year, creating faster and more convenient customer experiences,” said Hari Vasudev, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Walmart U.S. “Learn more about how technology is upleveling the holiday shopping spirit, from discovery, to purchase and delivery and even returns.”
Walmart’s InHome Delivery to use Chevrolet BrightDrop EVs
Walmart’s venture into AI and GenAI is just the latest example of the company doing more to reach customers and ensure that products they need are on the shelf.
With the deployment of Chevrolet BrightDrop 400 electric vans in major U.S. markets, Walmart is expanding its InHome delivery service. This move is designed to bolster the expansion of their delivery service while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns by reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the new vehicles offer Walmart's drivers enhanced safety features, improved efficiency and increased comfort.
The BrightDrop 400 vans, manufactured at GM's CAMI Assembly plant, have undergone extensive testing to ensure their suitability for Walmart's unique delivery needs. Walmart InHome associates, who are specially trained to deliver groceries directly into customers' residences, participated in a comprehensive pilot programme.
This real-world evaluation included navigating urban environments and completing actual customer deliveries, providing valuable insights into the vans' performance in diverse operational scenarios.
Walmart has also revealed its plan for a Grocery Network Transformation, an initiative which comes at a crucial time for the global food industry as it faces unprecedented challenges, from climate-induced disruptions to geopolitical tensions affecting distribution networks.
As the food sector tackles these issues alongside labour shortages, transportation disruptions and increasing demand for fresh, high-quality produce, the ability to quickly scale up capacity and incorporate new technologies into existing facilities is critical.
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