Latest news with #PeterLaflin
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Morrisons rolling out ‘revolutionary' new tool that will speed up grocery shopping for customers
Experts say the new tool could become "second nature" just like self-checkouts ALL CHANGE Morrisons rolling out 'revolutionary' new tool that will speed up grocery shopping for customers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MORRISONS has launched a new AI tool that will help customers find items quicker in store. The Product Finder feature has been added to the supermarket's More app. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The innovative new AI feature is available on the Morrisons More app now Shoppers can type in what they're looking for and the app will then tell them which aisle it's in and its precise location. You don't have to type in the exact product - it can give you a range of options if you type something like "mango smoothie". It also gives you some detail on how to find the exact product you want. For example, it might say: "With your back to the checkouts this can be found near the end of aisle 2, on the left-hand side." The feature has been built using Google's Gemini AI models. However it was developed by Morrisons' in-house data science team because of concerns about third-party vulnerabilities. Morrisons chief data officer Peter Laflin said the Product Finder is a "prime example of how we're leveraging technology to make shopping easier and more efficient for our customers". Meanwhile a Google Cloud spokesperson said the tool is a "perfect example of AI solving a common, everyday frustration – no more wandering aisles, no more endlessly searching for that one elusive item". Morrisons told The Sun the tool is not designed to replace shop workers. A spokesperson said it's instead aimed at freeing up their time to let them focus on providing customer service on the shop floor. Morrisons major shake-up Experts say the new tool will be revolutionary for shoppers. Darin Ezra, branding expert at Power Brands, says the feature could transform in-store shopping and be a "customer experience revolution". "For years, e-commerce has set the pace in convenience and personalisation," he said. "Brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled to compete, until now. This AI integration helps level the playing field." Jonny Murphy-Campbell, commercial director of Resolvable, said the tool will be especially helpful for more vulnerable customers. "Supermarkets can be overwhelming - especially for people in a rush, shopping with kids, folks who are neurodivergent, or those who are unfamiliar with the layout," he said. He added it could become "second nature" to use it, just like self-checkouts and scan-as-you-shop tools have become. Data concerns With any new technology like this being rolled out there will always be concerns about shoppers' privacy and how their data is used. Ezra says there could be "valid" concerns about surveillance or misuse of location data, so Morrisons should be transparent about what data is collected and how it's used. Murphy-Campbell says: "The big question is what's being tracked. If it's anonymous and purely functional (i.e., "help me find rice noodles"), there's not a great deal to be concerned about." The difference will be if the supermarket is collecting data on loyalty cards or personal profiles. Marty Bauer, retail and ecommerce expert at Omnisend, said: "If AI tools track your movement around the store and your preferences for certain items, retailers — and tech partners like Google — could build detailed behavioural profiles. "These would be even more powerful than what currently exists with loyalty cards like Nectar and Clubcard. "Some reassurance from Morrisons about how the data is used could go a long way towards maintaining trust in the shopping experience."
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Morrisons rolling out major ‘revolutionary' change to supermarket aisle to speed up grocery shopping for customers
MORRISONS has launched a new AI tool that will help customers find items quicker in store. The Product Finder feature has been added to the supermarket's More app. 1 Shoppers can type in what they're looking for and the app will then tell them which aisle it's in and its precise location. You don't have to type in the exact product - it can give you a range of options if you type something like "mango smoothie". It also gives you some detail on how to find the exact product you want. For example, it might say: "With your back to the checkouts this can be found near the end of aisle 2, on the left-hand side." The feature has been built using Google 's Gemini AI models. However it was developed by Morrisons ' in-house data science team because of concerns about third-party vulnerabilities. Morrisons chief data officer Peter Laflin said the Product Finder is a "prime example of how we're leveraging technology to make shopping easier and more efficient for our customers". Meanwhile, a Google Cloud spokesperson said the tool is a "perfect example of AI solving a common, everyday frustration – no more wandering aisles, no more endlessly searching for that one elusive item". Morrisons told The Sun the tool is not designed to replace shop workers. A spokesperson said it's instead aimed at freeing up their time to let them focus on providing customer service on the shop floor. Morrisons major shake-up Experts say the new tool will be revolutionary for shoppers. Darin Ezra, branding expert at Power Brands, says the feature could transform in-store shopping and be a "customer experience revolution". "For years, e-commerce has set the pace in convenience and personalisation," he said. "Brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled to compete, until now. This AI integration helps level the playing field." Jonny Murphy-Campbell, commercial director of Resolvable, said the tool will be especially helpful for more vulnerable customers. "Supermarkets can be overwhelming - especially for people in a rush, shopping with kids, folks who are neurodivergent, or those who are unfamiliar with the layout," he said. He added it could become "second nature" to use it, just like self-checkouts and scan-as-you-shop tools have become. Data concerns With any new technology like this being rolled out there will always be concerns about shoppers' privacy and how their data is used. Ezra says there could be "valid" concerns about surveillance or misuse of location data, so Morrisons should be transparent about what data is collected and how it's used. Murphy-Campbell says: "The big question is what's being tracked. If it's anonymous and purely functional (i.e., "help me find rice noodles"), there's not a great deal to be concerned about." The difference will be if the supermarket is collecting data on loyalty cards or personal profiles. Marty Bauer, retail and ecommerce expert at Omnisend, said: "If AI tools track your movement around the store and your preferences for certain items, retailers — and tech partners like Google — could build detailed behavioural profiles. "These would be even more powerful than what currently exists with loyalty cards like Nectar and Clubcard. "Some reassurance from Morrisons about how the data is used could go a long way towards maintaining trust in the shopping experience." How to save at Morrisons Buying a delivery pass can slash the cost of shopping online if you're a Morrisons regular. You also get priorities for Christmas delivery slots. How much it costs depends on which you get anytime or mid-week, and if it's for the year, six-months or monthly. You'll need to work out the cost compared to how much you spend on delivery without one to see if it's worthwhile. Morrisons does a range of wonky veg that can work out cheaper than the main range. Check websites like Quidco and TopCashback BEFORE you place your order. Cashback websites PAY you to shop. All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account. Search for discount codes on websites like and to see if you can get money off at the till. Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its deals newsletter to get the latest on any offers. We post the best deals in our Sun Money FB group too. Try switching all of your branded or premium goods for lower level ones and see if you notice the difference. Morrisons regularly adds new products to its 'own-brand "savers" range. This is its value range where prices start from as little as 20p. It includes all sorts of products including peas, spaghetti, marmalade, jaffa cakes and washing up liquid. Swap your usual items for savers alternatives and see if you can tell the difference. Shoppers can earn points with the More Than loyalty scheme when they spend online or in store. How many points you earn will depend on the offers available at the time, plus you get five points for every litre of fuel at Morrisons petrol stations. Reach 5,000 points and you get £5 off your shopping, plus there are other offers and coupons and the checkout and via the app. Shoppers also get cheaper prices that are just for members.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morrisons boosts store navigation with AI-powered product finder
UK supermarket chain Morrisons has introduced a new Product Finder feature in its mobile app to improve the shopping experience for its customers. The tool, developed using Gemini AI models on Google Cloud's platforms such as BigQuery and Cloud Run, enables shoppers to swiftly find products within stores, even during busy times. During the Easter 2025 period, the product finder registered 50,000 uses per day. Customers can enter a product name into the app and promptly receive details about the item's aisle and specific location in the store - particularly beneficial when stores temporarily change their layouts. Morrisons chief data officer Peter Laflin stated: "Having all our data in BigQuery has allowed Morrisons to create new solutions for customers that wouldn't have been possible before. The app uses Cloud Run to process search terms entered by customers. Gemini AI models analyse these terms and match them with Morrisons' detailed product codes. These codes are then queried against BigQuery, which contains extensive data on product availability and location across all Morrisons supermarkets. The resulting information is quickly communicated back to users. Commenting on the technology implementation, Google Cloud UK and Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa vice-president Mauren Costello stated: "This is about removing friction from the shopping journey. "By combining the power of Google Cloud's data platform with the reasoning capabilities of Gemini, Morrisons can now directly answer a customer's most immediate need — 'where is this item?' — in a simple and intuitive way." Morrisons operates 500 supermarkets and 1,600 Morrisons Daily stores nationwide and offers an online delivery service that reaches more than 97% of UK postcodes. In June 2025, the supermarket chain disclosed a 3.9% increase in like-for-like sales for the second quarter (ended 27 April 2025) with total sales up 4.2% to £3.9bn ($5.2bn). "Morrisons boosts store navigation with AI-powered product finder" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
