Albertsons Says AI Shopping Assistant Increased Customers' Basket Size by 10%

Core Insights - Albertsons Companies is integrating data and artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations, which is expected to be central to its transformation efforts [1][3] - The company reported a year-over-year growth of 2.4% in identical sales and 21% in digital sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 [2] AI Integration and Customer Experience - AI is not viewed as a short-term tool but is being embedded into merchandising, labor, and supply chain to create a sustainable competitive advantage [3] - The implementation of AI has led to increases in basket size, repeat customer visits, and overall loyalty [3] - The "Ask AI" feature has resulted in a 10% increase in basket size for users, indicating significant potential as adoption grows [4] Autonomous Shopping Assistants - Albertsons has introduced autonomous shopping assistants that help customers with meal planning, cart building, and completing grocery tasks [5] - These AI tools are designed to provide a seamless and personalized shopping experience, enhancing the omnichannel customer journey [6] Merchandising and Labor Optimization - AI is being utilized to transform category management and improve margins through enhanced merchandising intelligence [6] - Generative AI is being deployed for labor forecasting and scheduling, which enhances productivity and customer service by ensuring optimal staffing [7] Supply Chain Improvements - AI demand forecasting has become crucial for the supply chain, improving forecasting accuracy, fulfillment, quality, and on-shelf availability [8] - The company's tech and AI initiatives are aimed at being scalable and enterprise-wide, delivering measurable impacts and laying the groundwork for future growth [9]