AIが小売店の店内ショッピングを一変させる：80%の小売業者がAIシステムを導入予定

Home-improvement retailer Lowe's is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance in-store shopping experiences. The company uses AI systems to predict and meet customer demands, optimize store layouts, and streamline operations. For instance, AI helps predict increased demand for seasonal plants, ensuring they are ordered in sufficient quantities and placed prominently. Similarly, for hurricane preparation, AI facilitates timely ordering of essential items like flashlights and weather radios, and places plumbing supplies near the store entrance for urgent repairs. Chandhu Nair, senior vice president of data, AI, and innovation at Lowe's, emphasizes that the goal is to create a simpler, faster, and more enjoyable shopping experience. Historically, Lowe's relied on manual processes for data collection and analysis, which took months to yield meaningful results. With AI, these processes have been significantly accelerated, allowing the company to stay responsive to new product trends and social media influences. The integration of AI also involves digital twin technology, using Nvidia’s Omniverse platform. This virtual tool generates a 3D model of the physical store, enabling teams to test and refine layouts digitally before implementing them. Nair explained, "This would help surface the most relevant products in ways that align with how local customers shop." Other retailers are also recognizing the value of AI. According to Honeywell’s research, 80% of retailers plan to adopt AI systems in the coming months to better understand customer behavior, enhance the shopping experience, and boost worker productivity. Computer vision models, a key part of AI, can generate heat maps to identify high and low traffic areas, ensure products are placed correctly, and display personalized offers on in-store smart screens. However, the increasing reliance on AI raises concerns about job displacement. Lowe’s, however, is committed to augmenting its workforce rather than replacing it. Nair stressed the importance of combining human creativity with data-powered insights and efficient technology. The focus is on addressing staff pain points and creating high-value retail experiences that continually evolve with customer needs. Lowe’s AI projects are still in their early stages, but Nair remains optimistic about their future impact. His team will continue experimenting with new AI tools, improving them through faster feedback loops, and striving to deliver increasingly personalized shopping experiences. "We’re excited about what’s ahead and how AI will help us keep solving problems and fulfilling dreams for the home," Nair concluded. 業界関係者のコメント Sucharita Kodali, Forrester Researchの principal analyst, はAIエージェントが将来、人間の介入なしで独自に決定できる技術が、店舗運営の様々な側面で大きな影響を与える可能性があると指摘。例えば、欠勤した従業員の代わりに人を見つけたり、在庫が少なくなった際に商品を注文したり、在庫状況に合わせてマーケティング計画を作成したりすることが可能になると語る。 Honeywellについて Honeywellは、多国籍コンツェルン企業で、多くの分野でイノベーションを進めている。同社の研究は、小売業界でのAI採用が急速に進んでいることを示している。