Thailand – Google Cloud, a software development firm, has recently unveiled a strategic partnership with Thailand’s supermarket chain Central Food Retail Company Limited, bringing together a new artificial intelligence shopping assistant.
In this initiative, Google Cloud shared the development of Tops Chef Bot, an AI-driven shopping assistant aimed at providing a more personalised and convenient shopping experience. This new solution combines Google Cloud’s advanced data analytics, gen AI, and enterprise search engine technologies with Central Food Retail’s Personal Shopper service.
Designed to simplify meal planning, the tool further offers customers a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. Said service will first be introduced as a pilot at Tops Food Hall, Central Chidlom, with plans for a nationwide rollout across all Tops branches in the near future.
Speaking about the launch, Stephane Coum, chief executive officer at Central Food Retail Group, said, “Since the successful launch of the Personal Shopper service in 2021, which enhanced the convenience and lifestyle of our customers, Tops has continued to innovate and develop cutting-edge retail solutions. We prioritise the integration of digital technology and AI to refine our operations and elevate the customer experience, adapting swiftly to the dynamic trends and demands of the digital era.
“This year, we are revolutionising Thailand’s retail landscape once again through a strategic collaboration between Central Retail Digital and Google Cloud. With this initiative, we aim to set new benchmarks for the Thai retail industry, paving the way for a more innovative future,” added Coum.
Annop Siritikul, country director, Thailand at Google Cloud, also said, “Central Retail has taken full advantage of our Vertex AI and BigQuery platforms to connect powerful AI models like Gemini 1.5 Flash to its diverse data sources, including inventory, product catalogues, curated recipes, and customer insights—all while upholding stringent security and privacy standards.”
He further noted, “This platform-first approach has allowed them to develop and launch Tops Chef Bot, a GenAI agent underpinned by a Google-quality search engine. Tops Chef Bot’s ability to provide personalised meal preparation and grocery shopping assistance is a compelling example of how GenAI can enhance product discovery and elevate the retail customer experience.”
“We look forward to our continued collaboration with Central Retail to bring more enterprise-grade data- and AI-driven innovations to shoppers in Thailand,” Siritikul also said.
Furthermore, Tops Chef Bot integrates an advanced online inventory management system that optimises operations by decreasing the need for manual stock checks. This system further supports sales growth through a cross-selling strategy, which focuses on recommending complementary products or services that add value to items customers have previously purchased.
Meanwhile, David Llamas, group chief digital officer at Central Retail Corporation, commented, “In this endeavour, we have collaborated with Central Food Retail Group, starting with Tops Supermarket, to reimagine and enhance the Personal Shopper service. Leveraging Google Cloud’s Gemini 1.5 Flash model and Vertex AI Search, as well as the expertise of their engineering and AI experts, we have introduced Tops Chef Bot, a groundbreaking intelligent shopping assistant.”
“We at Central Retail Digital firmly believe that the launch of Tops Chef Bot will serve as inspiration for designing even more groundbreaking innovations and mark a significant milestone in advancing Thailand’s retail industry,” he stated.
