Target Corporation, the first large retailer to reveal that it is introducing this technology to its store team members across the U.S., has announced plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool to team members at all of its almost 2,000 shops by August. Target created the technology, known as Store Companion, a GenAI-powered chatbot that can assist with store operations management, mentor new team members, and respond to inquiries about the on-the-job process.
The purpose of Store Companion is to facilitate the work of teams by enabling them to work more rapidly and effectively. This will enable them to provide faster service and greater visitor interaction, which will enhance the shopping experience. The project is a component of Target’s larger strategic plan to apply GenAI throughout the organisation to empower employees, improve the visitor experience, and foster long-term commercial growth.
Brett Craig, executive vice president and chief information officer, Target said, “The transformative nature of GenAI is helping us accelerate the rate of innovation across our operations, and we’re excited about the role these new tools and applications will play in driving growth.”
On the specially designed portable devices of store employees, the Store Companion chatbot will be accessible as an app, offering prompt responses to their inquiries regarding policies and procedures. In addition, the tool acts as a coach and expert in retail processes, assisting in the on-the-job training of new and seasonal team members.
“Generative AI is game-changing technology and Store Companion will make daily tasks easier and enable our team to respond to guests’ requests with confidence and efficiency,” said Mark Schindele, executive vice president and chief stores officer, Target.
