Best Buy has begun a phased rollout of Ask Blue, a conversational shopping and support assistant that draws on product details, reviews, availability and pricing to help customers compare items and check compatibility. It can also route shoppers to self-service options or a live support specialist. Incoming chief executive Jason Bonfig described it on the retailer's second-quarter earnings call as part of a wider effort to improve the shopping experience.
What changed
Best Buy shoppers relied on standard product pages, search and human support for comparisons.
What it unlocks
Shoppers can ask conversational questions about products, compatibility and availability, and be handed to a human specialist when needed.
- same-store sales +4.1% year over year
- revenue $9.8B, +3.6%
- 50 planned Meta Labs store spaces
What you need to act on it
- rollout is phased, so not yet available to all shoppers
Sources