Walmart seeks to improve in-store shopping with AI tools

Walmart has unveiled five new AI-powered digital tools that are supposed to make shopping easier and faster. The retail giant said driving in-store shopping and improving the customer experience are its objectives with the applications.

Built into the Walmart app, the tools are personalized for every location and come to life when a shopper steps inside a Walmart store. Walmart said customers who use the app while they shop in stores spend 25% more on average than on trips when they don’t use the app.

The new tools include a savings feature that gives customers the ability to see what items are for sale in their local Walmart store, something the company said customers requested. The tool allows shoppers to find savings in a single tap, including Black Friday deals, price rollbacks, and clearance items. Walmart said customers can also filter items by category and compare prices. The retailer said the shopping tools are now available in U.S. stores.

Customers in stores can search for items just as they would when online shopping and the app shows the item’s location in the store. Walmart is also using AI to generate audio summaries for shoppers on product details and customer reviews. The retail giant said the audio summaries are available across 1,000 premium beauty products.

“The most wonderful time of the year should be joyful, and with the power of AI and technology, we’re making that possible,” said Tracy Poulliot, Walmart U.S. senior vice president of shopping experiences. “Whether customers are holiday shopping in our stores or from the comfort of home, we’re giving them the tools to check off their lists quicker and easier than ever before.”

Walmart’s announcement and launch come as shopper surveys indicate a majority of consumers plan to do more holiday shopping in stores this year. This reverses a trend of sluggish store traffic in late August and through September, according to data from Placer.ai.

A recent survey from marketing firm Quad found 75% of consumers said shopping in stores helps them feel connected to family and friends, while 76% describe in-store shopping as a “holiday ritual.” There is also the thrill of treasure hunting that only comes with in-store shopping, which is why 66% said it’s how they often find some of their favorite gifts.

Quad also found that 72% of consumers say they feel more certain about buying high-quality items when shopping in-store, and 70% say they are more comfortable spending on higher-priced items in-store, compared to only 30% online. Nearly seven in 10 said they trust that a deal is “real” when they see it in-store rather than online.