Walmart has shared a preview of some of the ways it is exploring emerging tech to boost the online shopping experience, from generative AI powered search to hands free voice shopping and virtual commerce.
In a blog post, Jon Alferness, Chief Product Officer, Walmart U.S., Srini Venkatesan, Executive Vice President, Walmart U.S. Omni Platforms and Tech, Dominique Essig, Vice President, Conversational Commerce & Replenishment, and Thomas Kang, VP and General Manager, Metaverse Commerce, Store No8, write: “We believe that generative AI (GenAI) can help our customers spend more time doing the things they enjoy and less time scrolling, tapping, and searching.”
“That’s why we’re experimenting with a variety of GenAI powered experiences that have the potential to elevate our relationship with customers from a shopping destination to a partner in accomplishing broader missions.”
They add: “To start, we’re leveraging GenAI to enhance our search experience so that it better understands context and allows customers to search by specific use cases, generating more relevant results that allows them to save time.”
“For example, customers can search “unicorn themed toddler birthday party” instead of conducting multiple separate searches for plates, streamers, party favours and more.”
Walmart is also enabling GenAI to assist customers with complex purchases, such as selecting an age appropriate cell phone that’s compatible with their current wireless provider.
And it is exploring how GenAI can aid in decision-making by creating tools that highlight priority product features and condense reviews into concise summaries.
Building on its Text to Shop offering, which launched last year, the retailer in testing a voice experience in its mobile app that allows customers to shop hands free on Walmart.com.
