How is Walmart transforming the B2B shopping experience with AI? Discover the secrets of the future of commerce!
Imagine a future where artificial intelligence revolutionizes the B2B buying experience. Retail giant Walmart is boldly embracing this transformation. Discover how AI is redefining the codes of commerce and revealing the secrets of the future of professional purchasing.
How Walmart is revolutionizing B2B commerce with AI
In the ever-changing field of retail, few companies are as well positioned to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) than Walmart. Although most consumers are familiar with Walmart’s B2C offerings, the retail giant is also revolutionizing the B2B industry through its division Walmart Business.
Meeting the unique needs of organizations
Walmart Business was launched to meet the specific demands of Walmart’s existing business and nonprofit customers. These organizations expressed the need to reduce costs, of simplify their purchases and of gain efficiency.
To fulfill this mission, Walmart Business has developed a dedicated site, an application, and an omnichannel experience focused on professional buyers. From office equipment to break room supplies, the platform offers a wide range of products at competitive prices. But what really sets Walmart Business apart is its strategic use of AI.
Personalization using AI: A tailor-made service for businesses
Walmart Business uses AI to provide a personalized experience to its users. Through a “people-driven, technology-powered” approach, the platform ensures that technology actually serves people.
For example, AI analyzes user behavior on the site to provide tailored experiences and product recommendations. For new visitors, incentives to create an account or contact a sales representative are automatically generated. For repeat customers, AI offers recommendations based on past purchases and browsing.
From discovery to purchase: Shortening the customer journey
In the B2B sector, the journey from discovery to purchase is often longer and more complex than in B2C. Walmart is using AI to bridge this gap, including optimizingsearch engine optimization (SEO).
AI-powered engines generate relevant keywords and page insights to improve Walmart Business’ visibility in search results, helping business customers quickly find the products they need.
Improving supply chain efficiency with AI
Behind the scenes, Walmart Business benefits from Walmart’s broader AI and machine learning initiatives, particularly in supply chain management. These AI-powered systems enable more efficient forecasting, planning and logistics, ensuring business customers have access to the necessary products at the right time.
These powerful engines enable customers to make informed choices about delivery method and have increased visibility into delivery times, thereby increasing their confidence in the service.
The human touch in an AI-led world
Despite AI’s crucial role in Walmart Business’s operations, the company remains true to its “people-driven, technology-powered” philosophy. Walmart is actively preparing its workforce for this AI-centric future.
AI tools help employees summarize large documents and quickly generate drafts, freeing up time for more strategic and creative tasks. By investing in supply chain automation, Walmart is also providing new opportunities for its employees to upskill and take on more technical roles.
The Future of AI in B2B Commerce
Moving forward, Walmart sees AI playing an increasingly important role in B2B commerce. From more sophisticated personalization to optimized inventory management, the possibilities are vast.
Walmart is nonetheless committed to using AI responsibly, with its Walmart Responsible AI Pledge which sets out six commitments to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI and other technologies.
In conclusion, the future of B2B commerce lies in the balance between advanced technology and the human touch. By using AI to improve efficiency, personalization and control, while keeping people at the heart, Walmart is setting a new standard for B2B commerce in the digital age.