German fashion retailer Zalando is introducing a new fashion assistant powered by ChatGPT, an AI technology developed by OpenAI. This innovative assistant aims to offer customers a more user-friendly way to navigate through Zalando’s extensive collection of products by allowing them to ask questions using their own fashion terms and language. The beta version of the fashion assistant will initially be accessible to a select group of customers in Germany, Austria, the UK, and Ireland during the spring season.
Zalando acknowledges that the vast range of choices available on its platform can sometimes overwhelm customers. With the introduction of the fashion assistant, Zalando hopes to address this issue by creating a more intuitive and natural browsing experience. For instance, customers can ask the assistant specific queries like “What should I wear for a wedding in Santorini in July?” The assistant not only comprehends the formality of the event but also takes into account the weather in Santorini during that time to provide appropriate clothing suggestions.
In the future, Zalando plans to merge customer preferences, such as preferred brands and available sizes, with the capabilities of the fashion assistant. This way, they can offer a more personalized selection of products. Unlike typical virtual assistants found on other online stores, Zalando’s fashion assistant goes beyond generic responses and lacks flexibility.
Zalando envisions expanding the capabilities of the fashion assistant beyond navigation assistance. They are laying the groundwork for additional features such as fashion and beauty advice or even outfit creation. By embracing advanced technologies like ChatGPT, Zalando aims to elevate the overall shopping experience for their customers.
Tian Su, VP Personalization and Recommendation at Zalando, emphasizes the company’s customer-centric approach. Zalando is dedicated to gaining a deeper understanding of their customers’ needs and preferences, and they firmly believe that ChatGPT has the potential to significantly enhance the shopping journey. Zalando plans to continuously learn from customer interactions with the fashion assistant in order to provide the best possible experience. This launch marks the beginning of Zalando’s exploration of ChatGPT’s potential in revolutionizing the fashion retail industry.
Useful links:
1. Zalando Official Website
2. OpenAI Official Website
