Albertsons Companies and Google Partner to Reinvent the Future of Grocery Shopping

Rhea-AI Summary

Albertsons Companies and Google have formed a multi-year partnership to enhance the shopping experience for customers across 2,253 neighborhoods. This collaboration will integrate Google technologies, including Search, Maps, and Cloud AI, to streamline shopping processes and provide new features like shoppable maps, conversational commerce, and predictive grocery list building. The partnership aims to facilitate easier online ordering and pickup/delivery options for customers, marking a significant step in Albertsons' modernization efforts in the retail sector.

Positive

• Partnership with Google enhances shopping experience through technology integration.
• Introduction of AI-powered features such as predictive grocery list building.
• New capabilities like shoppable maps and conversational commerce expected to increase customer engagement.

Negative

• None.

Albertsons Companies and Google today announced a multi-year partnership to make shopping easier and more convenient for millions of customers nationwide. The partnership brings together the power of Albertsons Cos.’ broad reach across 2,253 neighborhoods with Google’s capabilities in customer-centric innovation, creating a formidable nexus of retail savvy and trend-setting technology on a massive, omnichannel scale.

Google and Albertsons Cos. have been collaborating behind the scenes for the past year and, as part of the partnership announcement today, are debuting several new enhancements that will make the shopping experience easier and more exciting. Albertsons Cos. has engaged with numerous teams at Google, covering a wide range of technologies and services aimed at making the customer experience more efficient—for example, integrating with Google Search and Maps to help shoppers more easily find what they need, making it easier to shop with Google Pay, and infusing Google Cloud AI technologies such as Vision AI, Recommendations AI, and Business Messages into operations to create the world’s most predictive grocery engine.

Planned innovations under this partnership include:

• Shoppable maps with dynamic hyperlocal features
• AI-powered conversational commerce
• Predictive grocery list building

Finally, Albertsons Cos. and Google are making it even easier for customers to get groceries for pickup and delivery, by providing helpful information about online ordering from many Albertsons Cos.’ stores directly within mobile search. This functionality is coming to Google Maps later this year.

“Albertsons Cos. is continuing to transform into a modern retailer fit for the future, and we are leading the industry forward by providing the easiest and most exciting shopping experience for our customers,” said Chris Rupp, EVP and Chief Customer & Digital Officer at Albertsons Cos. “In bringing together Google’s technology expertise with our commitment to customer-centric innovation, we’re providing our customers with a superior shopping experience no matter how they choose to shop with us.”

Google’s partnership with Albertsons Cos. will build on projects already implemented to improve the customer experience. For example, earlier this month, Albertsons announced its use of Business Messages to help people get up-to-date information about COVID-19 vaccines at Albertsons Cos. pharmacies.

“Albertsons Companies is leading the way in bringing innovative technologies to the grocery store digital and physical aisle,” says Carrie Tharp, VP of Retail and Consumer, Google Cloud. “We’re proud to partner with Albertsons Companies to streamline processes and power innovative shopping experiences for customers. The unique strategic and technical collaboration at the heart of the Google and Albertsons partnership sets the stage for sustained post-pandemic transformation and momentum that will become clear to customers in both the near- and long-term.”

Additional Resources

• Albertsons and Google are making grocery shopping easier with cloud technology
• Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI
• Albertsons Companies helps customers find COVID-19 vaccines with Business Messages
• Keep up with the latest Google Cloud news on the Google Cloud newsroom and blog.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2019 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave $225 million in food and financial support. In 2020, Albertsons Cos. made a $53 million commitment to community hunger relief efforts and a $5 million commitment to organizations supporting social justice. These efforts have helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, social justice and programs for people with disabilities and veterans' outreach.

About Google

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates organizations’ ability to digitally transform their business with the best infrastructure, platform, industry solutions and expertise. We deliver enterprise-grade cloud solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology to help companies operate more efficiently and adapt to changing needs, giving customers a foundation for the future. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to solve their most critical business problems.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210330005290/en/

FAQ

What is the significance of the partnership between Albertsons Companies and Google?

The partnership aims to enhance the shopping experience through technology integration, making it easier for customers to shop.

What new features will be introduced under the Albertsons and Google partnership?

New features include shoppable maps, AI-powered conversational commerce, and predictive grocery list building.

How will the Google and Albertsons partnership impact online grocery shopping?

The partnership will streamline online ordering and improve the pickup and delivery process for customers.

When will the new shopping features from the Albertsons and Google partnership be available?

The new functionalities are set to be rolled out later this year.

How many neighborhoods does Albertsons serve as part of this partnership?

Albertsons serves a broad reach across 2,253 neighborhoods nationwide.