The Home Depot Launches New In-Store Application to Help Associates Provide Better Customer Experience

Rhea-AI Summary

The Home Depot has launched a new app, Sidekick, designed to enhance store associates' task prioritization and productivity. Utilizing machine learning, the app identifies high-demand products and guides associates on restocking tasks. With over 99,000 hdPhones devices already rolled out, Sidekick is currently installed in more than 600 stores and will expand to all U.S. locations by the end of the 2022 fiscal year. This initiative aims to improve customer service and operational efficiency.

Positive

• The Sidekick app enhances task prioritization for associates, improving efficiency.
• More than 99,000 hdPhones have been deployed, streamlining operations.
• Plans to expand Sidekick to all U.S. stores by end of fiscal 2022.

Negative

• None.

ATLANTA, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot® is rolling out a new, homegrown app developed to help store associates prioritize tasks more effectively. The app, dubbed Sidekick, is a new addition to hdPhones, The Home Depot's mobile devices dedicated to improving the associate and customer experience.

Powered by machine learning (ML), the app guides associates to prioritize the highest demand product, which shelf to restock, and the location of the excess product on overhead shelves. Sidekick saves time and increases productivity for associates by:

• Leveraging a cloud-enabled ML algorithm to determine which tasks are actionable and when they should be completed
• Utilizing machine vision to detect and fill out-of-stock products, as well as to locate products in stores
• Alerting specific associates which tasks need to be completed first via a common tasking engine
• Showcasing where and how to complete a task in a dashboard with associate and manager views
• Integrating with other platforms to ensure all data and task prioritization is up-to-date and aligned with broader business needs

"The first step to customer service is being in stock with the right product that's easy to locate," says Muzammil Akram, vice president for store technology of The Home Depot. "Equipping our associates with innovative technology is one key factor in delivering on that initiative. Sidekick is the perfect addition to hdPhones because it utilizes a data-driven approach to help our associates prioritize which tasks will benefit our customers the most."

The Sidekick release closely follows the launch of hdPhones, a customer service-driven device developed in collaboration with Zebra Technologies, HPE and Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company. With the widespread rollout of hdPhones, The Home Depot became the largest user of the latest generation of Zebra devices. Since the launch, The Home Depot has rolled out more than 99,000 devices, removing friction from the home improvement retail experience across all U.S. stores.

While hdPhones empower Home Depot associates, The Home Depot mobile app allows customers to quickly and easily locate products on their own within any store, find out how many are available, look up product reviews and DIY tips, and much more.

The Home Depot has already installed Sidekick in more than 600 stores and plans to expand deployment to all U.S. stores by the end of the 2022 fiscal year.

ABOUT THE HOME DEPOT

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, the company operated a total of 2,319 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index. The Home Depot is #17 on the 2022 Fortune 500. 

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SOURCE The Home Depot

FAQ

What is the Sidekick app by Home Depot?

The Sidekick app is a new tool launched by Home Depot to help store associates prioritize tasks using machine learning technology.

How many stores currently have the Sidekick app installed?

The Sidekick app has been installed in over 600 Home Depot stores.

What technology powers the Sidekick app?

The Sidekick app is powered by machine learning, enabling it to guide associates on restocking tasks effectively.

When is Home Depot planning to roll out the Sidekick app nationwide?

Home Depot plans to expand the Sidekick app to all U.S. stores by the end of the 2022 fiscal year.

What impact does the Sidekick app have on customer service?

The Sidekick app aims to improve customer service by ensuring that associates can prioritize restocking high-demand products efficiently.