M&S unveils AI wine choosing tool in UK grocery first
M&S has unveiled a new AI wine finder tool designed to help their customers pick a bottle of wines from its 400+ strong range, which will be available in 20 stores as well as across more than its online channel. The post M&S unveils AI wine choosing tool in UK grocery first appeared first on The Drinks Business.
M&S has unveiled a new AI wine finder tool designed to help their customers pick a bottle of wines from its 400+ strong range, which will be available in 20 stores as well as across more than its online channel.
The new roll out, which was developed in partnership with US-based AI tech company Preferabli, will be available online for around 570 stores as well as at point-of-sale marketing in 20 foodhalls across the UK. It is being trialled to help customers navigate a category that can be confusing, following the #WineWorries Mythbusting Report conducted by OnePoll on behalf of M&S that found that nearly a quarter of shoppers spend more than 10 minutes deliberating on what to pick in the wine aisle.
All the consumer now has to do is to answer a few quick questions about personal preferences to be offered a tailored recommendations of the wines ranged in that particular store.
Caroline Thompson-Hill, head of beers, wine and spirits at M&S Food, said that M&S knew wine could be a difficult category to shop and it was important to find new ways to support customers shopping their "incredible range" in store".
"By utilising AI, the Wine Finder tool helps encourage customers to try different regions, grapes and bottles they’ve not considered before. By suggesting wines to try, we’ll help customers make decisions in stores and hopefully find some new favourites.”
The AI tool is underpinned by M&SFood's digital catalogue, which provides live stocking information across its more than 1,000 stores through the M&S app. The retailer said that millions of customers were using the digital catalogue to plan their shop, with customers able to see what was in stock at their local store and add items to a digital shopping list.
According to Preferabli, the partnership marks the first time such advanced technology has been integrated into a highly curated collection on a grocery retailing platform in the UK and highlights both companies "dedication to creating innovative, personalized experiences in grocery
retail".
Pam Dillon, co-founder and CEO of Preferabli said that the company was "imagining a world driven by individual preferences, using machine intelligence with human touch."
"Our software extends the bounds of what human beings can do to create true and lasting customer relationships by working at scale across the world," she said.
Perferabli's software was built by PhDs in physiology and applied mathematics working with one of the largest group of MWs and Master Sommeliers in the world. Its recommendations are powered by its proprietary database that uses hundreds of characteristics for each wine, which has a novel form of machine learning that is protected by 12 patents. Its software can also provide shoppers with food pairing recommendations.
The AI-driven wine, spirits and food recommendation platform acquired Napa-based Libation Labs last month, a direct-to-consumer loyalty platform known for its Cuvée app. It follows Preferabli’s partnership with one of the biggest wine retailers in the US, Albertsons Companies’ direct-to-consumer wine shipping platform Vine & Cellar Reserve, which was announced in December.
The new roll out, which was developed in partnership with US-based AI tech company Preferabli, will be available online for around 570 stores as well as at point-of-sale marketing in 20 foodhalls across the UK. It is being trialled to help customers navigate a category that can be confusing, following the #WineWorries Mythbusting Report conducted by OnePoll on behalf of M&S that found that nearly a quarter of shoppers spend more than 10 minutes deliberating on what to pick in the wine aisle.
All the consumer now has to do is to answer a few quick questions about personal preferences to be offered a tailored recommendations of the wines ranged in that particular store.
Caroline Thompson-Hill, head of beers, wine and spirits at M&S Food, said that M&S knew wine could be a difficult category to shop and it was important to find new ways to support customers shopping their "incredible range" in store".
"By utilising AI, the Wine Finder tool helps encourage customers to try different regions, grapes and bottles they’ve not considered before. By suggesting wines to try, we’ll help customers make decisions in stores and hopefully find some new favourites.”
The AI tool is underpinned by M&SFood's digital catalogue, which provides live stocking information across its more than 1,000 stores through the M&S app. The retailer said that millions of customers were using the digital catalogue to plan their shop, with customers able to see what was in stock at their local store and add items to a digital shopping list.
According to Preferabli, the partnership marks the first time such advanced technology has been integrated into a highly curated collection on a grocery retailing platform in the UK and highlights both companies "dedication to creating innovative, personalized experiences in grocery
retail".
Pam Dillon, co-founder and CEO of Preferabli said that the company was "imagining a world driven by individual preferences, using machine intelligence with human touch."
"Our software extends the bounds of what human beings can do to create true and lasting customer relationships by working at scale across the world," she said.
Perferabli's software was built by PhDs in physiology and applied mathematics working with one of the largest group of MWs and Master Sommeliers in the world. Its recommendations are powered by its proprietary database that uses hundreds of characteristics for each wine, which has a novel form of machine learning that is protected by 12 patents. Its software can also provide shoppers with food pairing recommendations.
The AI-driven wine, spirits and food recommendation platform acquired Napa-based Libation Labs last month, a direct-to-consumer loyalty platform known for its Cuvée app. It follows Preferabli’s partnership with one of the biggest wine retailers in the US, Albertsons Companies’ direct-to-consumer wine shipping platform Vine & Cellar Reserve, which was announced in December. 
