Sainsbury's enters five-year collaboration with Microsoft to improve customer experience

UK’s second-largest retailer and a household name, Sainsbury’s, is collaborating with Microsoft to leverage expert engineering and AI capabilities in a bid to streamline and enhance the in-store and online customer experiences.

According to a report by Microsoft News, with the five-year collaboration in place, store colleagues at Sainsbury’s will now use AI-powered tools, which provide real-time data and key insights.

The partnership will improve store operations, drive greater efficiency for colleagues, and provide customers with more efficient and effective service, delivering stronger returns for shareholders under Sainsbury’s ‘Save and invest to win’ programme.

Sainsbury’s will hold training and upskilling programs to increase awareness and ensure that employees can leverage AI to the fullest.

On the collaboration, Clodagh Moriarty, Chief Retail and Technology Officer at Sainsbury’s, said,

Our collaboration with Microsoft will accelerate our ambition to become the UK’s leading AI-enabled grocer 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, continue to provide leading customer service and deliver returns for our shareholders.

Sainsbury’s will use Microsoft’s products and services to better harvest data, quickly market new products, guide store operators to sections and shelves that need to be restocked, and enhance the buying experience for customers with improved search and interactive UI.

The two are yet to share the financial details of the collaboration.

Last month, Microsoft and ELC announced an AI Innovation Lab to help the latter develop market-oriented products. Also, reports indicate that LG and Microsoft will soon discuss AI integration into products.

Besides, Microsoft’s recent survey suggests increased AI adoption in workplaces. Globally, 75% of the employees use AI for work-related tasks!

What do you think about Microsoft’s sudden collaborations with retailers, including Sainsbury’s? Is it a sign of Microsoft’s reign in the AI landscape? Share with our readers in the comments section.