Microsoft is teaming up with America’s largest grocery retailer Kroger to bring digital solutions to retail industry and transform the shopping experience for customers.
The partnership will bring together the Microsoft’s experience in cloud and artificial intelligence (AI), and Kroger’s expertise in grocery industry.
Retailers use Microsoft Azure as the preferred cloud for Retail as a Service (RaaS). Using Azure and IoT sensors, Kroger Technology team has built a smart technology system. The system is currently being used by Kroger to pilot its connected stores in Monroe and Redmond.
“Our partnership brings together Kroger’s world-class expertise in the grocery industry with the power of Azure and Azure AI,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Together, we will redefine the shopping experience for millions of customers at both Kroger and other retailers around the world, setting a new standard for innovation in the industry.”
All the data generated in stores are stored and processed using Azure. These stores will have new generation of EDGE shelves (Enhanced Display for Grocery Environment), a shelving system that uses digital displays rather than traditional paper tags. The EDGE shelves will show prices and promotions, and information related to nutrition and diet.
Leveraging RaaS, the stores will provide new and enhanced experiences to customers and store associates, and enable higher levels of personalization using insights.
“Kroger is building a seamless ecosystem driven by data and technology to provide our customers with personalized food inspiration. We are identifying partners through Restock Kroger who will help us reinvent the customer experience and create new profit streams that will also accelerate our core business growth. We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft to redefine grocery retail,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO.
The new RaaS product built by Microsoft and Kroger will be a key software by a retailer for retailers. The companies will bring the RaaS solution to market together.
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The companies will showcase the new solution at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show, in New York in the Microsoft booth (#3301) on January 13.
