TL;DR:
- Victoria’s Secret & Co. collaborates with Google Cloud for a multi-year partnership.
- The partnership aims to enhance personalized online shopping using AI technologies.
- A generative AI-powered conversational assistant will offer tailored product recommendations.
- Acquisition of Adore Me brings synergy, with both brands using Google Cloud’s AI platforms.
- Victoria’s Secret plans to use AI in marketing, sentiment analysis, and supply chain optimization.
- Google Cloud’s Vertex AI Search will improve website and app search capabilities.
- The partnership signals a commitment to innovation and enhancing the customer journey.
Main AI News:
In anticipation of NRF 2024, the retail industry’s flagship event, Victoria’s Secret & Co. (VS&Co) and Google Cloud have forged a pivotal, multi-year alliance. Victoria’s Secret & Co. is set to harness Google Cloud’s advanced AI and generative AI technologies, ushering in a new era of personalized and inclusive online shopping for their global clientele. This partnership will not only reshape the customer experience but also enhance the engagement of associates, while driving operational efficiencies.
With Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s website already boasting over 500 million annual visits and continually expanding, its primary focus is to leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized experiences on a massive scale. Under this groundbreaking partnership, the brand is embarking on the development of a groundbreaking generative AI-powered conversational assistant, powered by Google Cloud’s AI platform, Vertex AI. This conversational chatbot aims to provide customers with bespoke product recommendations and invaluable guidance tailored to individual preferences and life circumstances—be they a sports enthusiast, a nursing mother, a breast cancer survivor, or anyone seeking a new bra.
In December 2022, Victoria’s Secret acquired Adore Me, a leading direct-to-consumer lingerie company, with the intent of integrating Adore Me’s technology and expertise to elevate the Victoria’s Secret and PINK shopping experience and expedite the modernization of VS&Co’s digital platform. Adore Me has already been harnessing Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform and Duet AI for Google Workspace to power generative AI initiatives. This newfound synergy between the brands enables Victoria’s Secret & Co. to seamlessly incorporate the extensive language models developed by Adore Me.
Chris Rupp, Chief Customer Officer at Victoria’s Secret & Co., affirms, “The integration of Google Cloud’s AI and generative AI technologies will not only enhance the online shopping experience for our customers but will also catalyze innovation across various facets of our business. This partnership signifies a new era for Victoria’s Secret & Co., where state-of-the-art technology harmonizes with our commitment to enriching the customer journey and solidifying our position as a retail leader.”
Victoria’s Secret & Co. is actively exploring strategic applications of Google Cloud’s advanced AI technologies in areas such as marketing, customer sentiment analysis, supply chain optimization, and even human resources and store operations. These innovations promise to streamline operations, meet customer and associate needs more effectively, and support the brand’s global expansion efforts.
Murali Sundararajan, Chief Information Officer at Victoria’s Secret & Co., adds, “We are strategically leveraging AI to harness data for the benefit of our customers and to optimize internal processes. We are enthusiastic about the potential applications, ranging from international expansion planning to marketing development and supply chain optimization. These initiatives have the potential to not only streamline our operations but also better cater to the demands of our customers and associates.”
Furthermore, Victoria’s Secret and Victoria’s Secret PINK are gearing up to enhance their website and mobile app with Google Cloud’s Vertex AI Search for retail technology. This visionary integration promises to elevate the retailer’s ability to deliver Google-quality search and recommendation capabilities, enabling shoppers to swiftly and effortlessly find relevant products.
Carrie Tharp, Vice President of Strategic Industries at Google Cloud, commends Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s use of AI and generative AI to drive strategic growth, stating, “This exemplifies how retailers can practically harness these new technologies to unlock their brand’s full potential, from crafting personalized experiences that resonate with shoppers to revolutionizing product development and delivery.“
These technological advancements build upon Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s recent introduction of an AI-powered product search feature, utilizing Google Cloud’s Vision API Product Search technology. This feature allows users to find specific products by simply uploading an image, exemplifying the brand’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences through technological innovation—a cornerstone of their operational philosophy.
Conclusion:
The collaboration between Victoria’s Secret & Co. and Google Cloud represents a significant stride in the retail industry. By harnessing AI technologies for personalized shopping experiences and operational improvements, the partnership underscores a commitment to innovation and customer-centricity. This move positions Victoria’s Secret & Co. as a frontrunner in leveraging AI to transform the retail landscape, setting the stage for a potential shift in how brands engage with their customers and optimize their operations.
