Retail leaders talk the future of tech at GroceryConnex
At Canadian Grocer’s GroceryConnex conference, keynote speaker Amber Mac moderated a compelling conversation on technology in grocery retail.
Mac was joined by two of the industry's top technology executives, Frédéric Legault, VP and chief information officer, Metro, and Michon Williams, chief technology officer, Walmart Canada.
The panel delved into the impact of technology on day-to-day business as well as the opportunities and challenges that it brings. Read on for the highlights:
‘People-led, tech-powered’
Williams said Walmart’s goal is to be the fastest growing omnichannel retailer—but not at the expense of its workers.
“We talk a lot about being people-led and tech-powered, because the technology has to work for the people, especially in the context of omni,” she said. “It really has to be about people using, adopting and embracing the technology.”
READ: Inside Walmart Canada’s tech transformation
The chain strengthened its tech capabilities during the pandemic, Williams said. Now, it’s focused leveraging technology to support its employees.
Williams said the retailer trains its employees on how to use new tools.
“AI won’t replace people. But people who learn how to use AI are in a stronger position,” she said.
‘Smart followers’
Metro’s Legault said the Ontario and Quebec grocer isn’t always interested in being an early adopter.
“The grocery business is a very operationally-driven business and we can’t afford to make mistakes. So balancing innovation and operation is key,” he told attendees.
Instead, the grocer thinks of itself as a “smart follower,” with an eye towards its long-term goals. Metro recently capped off a seven-year, billion-dollar supply chain modernization project, including the launch of its automated fresh distribution centre in Toronto.
Williams said Walmart is also a smart follower in its own right. She pointed to its ChatGPT-like tool called My Assistant, launched in November 2023. for home office associates. My Assistant uses gen AI technology to help the retailer’s head office workers free up time from daily tasks like summarizing large documents or meeting notes.
“We haven’t explored all the opportunities for more traditional AI or machine learning. One of the things that I’m most excited about is starting to aggregate [data],” she says. “Data historically has been pretty siloed but we’re starting to get to a place where our data is mature enough that we can use [it].. to really understand sales patterns and trends.”
Looking ahead
Legault said he’s most excited about technology that can optimize pricing and enhance personalization.
“In the grocery sector we have something that’s really extraordinary,” he said. “We have a very complicated supply chain that reaches across the world to import goods… We have a ton of data on consumers, on their profile and what they buy everyday through loyalty programs.”
Ensure Metro delivers the right price at the right store is “really an area where technology can help [the grocer] be even more efficient,” he said.
GroceryConnex took place at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on Nov. 25.
