A month ago, Walmart announced its plan to scale its generative AI, augmented reality, and immersive commerce platforms to enhance customer experiences. While much attention has focused on AI’s role in engaging customers, the true potential of generative AI lies in its ability to optimize retail operations. With the UAE’s retail sales projected to reach $70.5 billion by 2025, the adoption of AI solutions is becoming essential for retailers, especially in fast-growing sectors like e-grocery, seeking to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver more sustainable services that keep pace with growing consumer demand.
At the centre of the e-grocery business model lies the effective management of product information. Product Information Management (PIM) software serves as the central information hub for products, storing essential details about each item, including names, descriptions, and images. It ensures that accurate information is available to customers, facilitating a smooth shopping experience while supporting logistics and inventory movement.
The visual appeal and descriptions of products significantly influence customer decisions. Research indicates that 81% of consumers turn to online sources for product information before making a purchase. However, traditional methods of data input, image downloads, and comprehensive product card creation are labour-intensive. Generative AI addresses these challenges by accelerating the creation and modification of product information while minimizing errors and reducing the workload for content managers.
Here are some innovative ways Yango Tech has been exploring the integration of Generative AI within its PIM software:
Enhancing Data Completeness in Product Cards
One of the biggest challenges for retailers is maintaining accurate and complete product data. Grocers can leverage AI-driven image recognition to simplify this process. Simply scan the package, and product information will automatically be filled in seconds, including nutritional values, ingredients, and calorie counts. This technology dramatically reduces data entry time from 15-20 minutes to just five minutes, with automated verification ensuring that the data is both accurate and up to date.
Generating Compelling Product Descriptions
Creating engaging marketing copy for products has long been a challenge for retailers. However, with Generative AI, e-grocers can effortlessly produce captivating product descriptions at the click of a button. By integrating Generative AI within PIM software, retailers can streamline this process, allowing the system to generate comprehensive product descriptions based on existing information. Furthermore, the system can also create social media advertisements and posts, bolstering brand visibility and engagement.
Improving Product Visualization and Categorization Studies reveal that 75% of online shoppers base their purchase decisions on product images, underscoring the significance of highlighting the importance of visuals that accurately represent the product. To support this, specially developed and trained generative AI can be utilized to enhance the shopping experience by replicating the offline product experience. Moreover, AI plays a crucial role in developing organized and user-friendly product catalogues, enabling customers to navigate easily and locate their desired items. This solution can be tailored to suit specific offers, branding, or promotional campaigns.
A New Era of Retail Innovation
As AI technology continues to shape the retail landscape, its integration into PIM systems represents a key advancement in optimizing retail operations. For e-grocers, leveraging computer vision and Generative AI enhances backend processes, ensuring product data is accurate and seamlessly updated. These improvements in operational efficiency result in a smoother customer experience, fostering satisfaction and loyalty. Ultimately, this leads to sustainable business growth, with first-time shoppers becoming repeat customers.
