Microsoft and UK supermarket Sainsbury’s have announced a five-year partnership to develop artificial intelligence to improve the customer shopping experience.
The collaboration will see Microsoft’s technology combined with Sainsbury’s datasets to improve store operations, increase staff efficiency, and enhance customer service.
AI tools will be used to create a more interactive online shopping experience for shoppers and improve search requests with tailored results.
It will also help in-store colleagues by providing real-time data and insights for processes such as a smarter shelf replenishment procedure.
Using AI together with multiple data inputs such as on-the-shelf cameras, colleagues will be directed to shelves that need replenishing, saving colleagues time and ensuring customers aren’t missing out on goods.
AI-guided support will also help staff address in-person customer and colleague queries.
Finally, Sainsbury’s said its data assets, combined with Microsoft 365 collaboration tools, generative AI, and machine learning capabilities, will allow it to drive returns through its ‘Save and invest to win’ programme.
It will build all of this on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, and staff will be supported with upskilling programmes, Sainsbury’s explained.
Sainsbury’s is the UK’s second largest retailer, operating over 1400 stores, as well as catalogue retailer Argos, which it acquired in 2016.
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“Our collaboration with Microsoft will accelerate our ambition to become the UK’s leading AI-enabled grocer,” said Clodagh Moriarty, Sainsbury’s chief retail and technology officer.
“It’s one of the key ways we’re investing in transforming our capabilities over the next three years, enabling us to take another big leap forward in efficiency and productivity,” Moriarty added.
“Sainsbury’s has laid out a bold vision that puts AI at the heart of its business, accelerating the development of new services, which will enhance and transform the customer and colleague experience,” said Clare Barclay, CEO, Microsoft UK.
“We are delighted to be working with Sainsbury’s to power the next generation of retail.”
