Belgian retailer Colruyt has announced plans to test a digital wine assistant at its stores in Wetteren, Zele, Merelbeke, Liedekerke, Halle and Menen.
The digital assistant will be placed on the wine aisle and feature a large touchscreen with software that allows customers to select various wines, the company added.
The pilot will be conducted for six months, after which it will be evaluated before a possible further expansion of the project is considered.
The digital assistant is an addition to the one-to-one guidance service Colruyt already offers with its in-store wine advisers.
'Informed Choice'
Olivier Tournet, wine consultant at Colruyt, said, "Our in-store wine advisers have long assisted our customers in making an informed choice. However, we are aware that a wine adviser cannot always be available, and that every customer is different.
"The assistant will guide our customers through our wine aisle, while the wine adviser can play a supporting role if required. The goal is to make shopping simple and efficient, while also being able to inspire our customers."
Digital Wine Assistant
Recent market research has unveiled that some shoppers feel a bit lost in the wine aisle, Colruyt noted, adding that wine is a category in which customers do not want to risk making the wrong choice.
The new solution will help maximise the level of support the retailer offers, as a personal wine adviser can only deal with one shopper at a time, Colruyt said.
Moreover, not everyone finds it easy to engage in a chat with the wine adviser, the company added.
Colruyt teamed up with external product developer, In The Pocket, to develop the digital wine assistant.
How it Works
Using a touchscreen, customers can navigate through Colruyt's wine assortment using a selection menu, following which, a questionnaire focuses on topics such as price range, the type of dish the wine will be served with, colour of the wine, type of wine (e.g. non-alcoholic) and region where the wine comes from.
Shoppers can also specify if a particular wine will be presented as a gift, the company said.
The application also takes into account promotions and campaigns, such as wine festivals.
The digital wine assistant is accompanied by a 'wine bell', which customers can use to call up the wine adviser, if necessary.
The digital wine assistant is part of Colruyt's plan to make its stores 'future-proof'.
