Episode 126: Alan Gormley Shopbox AI - Transformation of retail with AI

Andrew Gaule (linkedin.com/in/andrew-gaule-aimava) discusses with Alan Gormley, founder of Shopbox AI the application Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail, the growth of his venture and changing business models. See further details and summary below. For a book on corporate innovation and venturing see "Purpose to Performance - Innovative New Value Chains" by Andrew Gaule. ( shorturl.at/dfDTW )You can listen to this interview as a podcast on Gaule's Question Time on Apple, Spotify, Google and many other podcast channels. https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/gaulesqtSubscribe for future interviews. See this and other video content at Aimava Purpose to Performance Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV9o-htFNIk9Yt7jp2XcdWwThis interview provides an overview of Shopbox AI, a startup using AI to transform the retail experience by creating personalized stores tailored to each customer. CEO and founder Alan Gormley discusses Shopbox's founding, approach to AI, and journey over the past 3 years. Key topics include the importance of putting the customer first rather than pushing products, validated learning through early customer pilots, and the value of vertical AI depth versus horizontal breadth. The interview explores both the business and technical considerations in building retail AI.Key Topics:AI in retailMain points: Huge opportunity to improve customer experience, but most retailers using simple recommendations focused on driving product. Shopbox aims to build personalized store tailored to each customer by truly listening.Validated learningMain points: Shopbox learned through early customer pilots, interviews, and feedback. Critical to experiment, try things, and prove what works rather than building in silo then releasing.AutomationMain points: Key focus on fully automating Shopbox functionality so retailers don't have to change processes. Allows scaling up and down market. Critical for adoption.Customer-firstMain points: Shopbox success dependent on putting customer at center and listening, not pushing products. Build for them, not merchandisers.AI depth vs. breadthMain points: Shopbox AI very deep in retail but focused only on that vertical. Avoid temptation to expand into other industries or build horizontal capability.Team structureMain points: Balanced business and technical team. AI as separate function to drive creativity. Avoid "hammer searching for nails" problem.Learning from customersMain points: Each customer provides learning to improve offering. Primary way to learn vs conferences/research.FundingMain points: Private investors, some from retail. Also funded by Enterprise Ireland. Valuable to have mix of financial and industry experience.MetricsMain points: Business growth, revenue, conversion, AOV key metrics. But degree of automation just as critical to measure.Change managementMain points: Automated solutions critical so retailers don't have to change processes. Allows both scaling up and down market.