Sainsbury’s in Microsoft AI deal

J Sainsbury plc and Microsoft Corp have announced a new five-year strategic partnership, using Microsoft's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and Sainsbury's rich datasets

The aim of the partnership is to help accelerate the retailer's recently announced Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy.

The partnership will improve store operations, drive greater efficiency for colleagues and provide customers with more efficient and effective service, delivering stronger returns for shareholders under Sainsbury's Save and invest to win programme.

By harnessing Microsoft’s products and expert engineering capabilities, Sainsbury's will put the power of AI in the hands of store colleagues and make shopping more engaging and more convenient for millions of customers across the UK – both online and in store. This will be supported by upskilling programmes for Sainsbury’s colleagues, helping them learn and grow in the new AI-driven economy.

Clodagh Moriarty, Sainsbury’s CTO, said “Our collaboration with Microsoft will accelerate our ambition to become the UK’s leading AI-enabled grocer. It’s one of the key ways we’re investing in transforming our capabilities over the next three years, enabling us to take another big leap forward in efficiency and productivity, continue to provide leading customer service and deliver returns for our shareholders.”