Latest news with #ProductFinder
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Secret Woolies feature solves common supermarket problem
A little-known feature in the Woolworths app is quietly transforming the weekly grocery shop for those who have discovered it. For anyone who's ever wandered the aisles searching for a niche cooking ingredient or mustered the courage to ask a store assistant where the pickles are, the supermarket's 'Product Finder' feature is the tool you've always wished existed. It's understood to have launched in October last year and is now available in 300 Woolworths stores across New South Wales. It allows shoppers to locate items instantly, without needing to rely on the laminated aisle directories. How it works By switching the app into 'in-store' mode and setting your local Woolworths as your preferred store, you'll then see the Product Finder tile on the home screen. Customers can then either type or speak the name of the item they're looking for. The app will then display the product, along with related items, and tell you exactly which aisle it's in. If you're happy to share your phone's location, there's an even more advanced option. The app can show you a detailed map of the store and function like GPS, guiding you straight to the product you're after. It even integrates with Olive, the supermarket's AI voice assistant, so shoppers can verbally ask where to find something without touching their screen. Woolworths say it's a tool built for convenience A Woolworths spokesperson told that, 'Over one million Woolworths customers now rely on the Woolworths app as an essential part of their shopping routine as they use it to manage their shop both online and in our aisles. 'Once users have set their preferred store in the app, customers can access their local store floor plan to easily navigate and find their favourite products more quickly and conveniently,' they said. Shoppers respond Reactions from shoppers have been mixed. Some say they'll stick to asking a store employee for help or referring to the printed directories at the end of the aisles. However, others have praised the feature as a 'game-changer' that'll 'help cut down time and mental effort' while shopping. 'There's nothing worse than pacing up and down the aisles looking for something specific, only to realise it's back in the first aisle I looked in,' one person told 'I sometimes use the laminated cards, but they don't have everything on them and only show the basics, so this will be great,' another said. A third shopper added: 'I would definitely use it in a store I am not familiar with. How handy'. And a busy mum-of-three said it would be 'perfect for those moments when you're rushing into a store for a specific item – something you don't usually cook with or a new product'. Given that Woolworths stocks an average of 20,000 products in each store, this new feature is sure to become popular.
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.
