The Very Group’s digital buyer expertise (DCX) director, Paul Hornby, has claimed the ecommerce big is “not developing technology for technology’s sake”, as an alternative focusing its intention on “transforming it with a real customer and commercial focus.”

Speaking to InternetRetailing, the previous Matalan ecommerce director revealed synthetic intelligence (AI) is a “core tenant” of its technique.

He claimed no jobs will likely be impacted by the elevated use of AI, as an alternative, the software program will likely be used to “further create brand loyalty”.

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Very is ranked as a Top100 retailer in RXUK Top500 research.

He mentioned: “AI will make it easier to scale the creation of assets that you need to be able to understand what certain items look like on you before buying.”

“We see the opportunity for AI step changing the digital experience because of its ability to scale,” Hornby acknowledged.

He added that for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, the online-only retailer has seen a continued “robust performance”, reporting an increase in pre-tax income to £63.9 million for the yr ended 2 July 2022.

The firm additionally noticed a 12.6% rise in revenues, in contrast with pre-pandemic buying and selling. However, in comparison with its best-ever yr in 2021, the corporate’s group gross sales have been down 7.3%.

Commenting on the figures, Hornby claimed: “Having that class flexibility permits us to experience the totally different bumps within the highway, for instance, when one product dips, one other usually picks up.

“Multi-category flexibility has meant that as clients have been shopping for in or shopping for out of various areas, we’ve been in a position to keep related in several methods amid the very economically difficult time.

“The challenges we face are consistent to those every other retailer is facing due to the turbulent economic environment. We know there have been increasing cost-of-living pressures for customers since we have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he mentioned.

As a outcome, the group launched one other 1,000 merchandise into its ‘Everyday’ value range, earlier this year, to help customers affected by the ongoing-cost-of-living crisis.

The new merchandise joined the 700 merchandise already within the lineup together with homeware and style.