GS Retail, operator of GS25 and GS Shop, reported early results from its 4th Future Retail program on November 10. The company worked with 5 AI startups for about 4 months. GS Shop's AI search optimization reached a 3.9-fold increase in product exposure during testing.
AI search optimization
GS Shop applied generative engine optimization with startup Search OS. The team optimized information for about 100,000 products and published around 2,000 pieces of content. The work focused on product visibility in generative AI search results.
Vision AI in stores
GS25 installed Vision AI from startup mAy-I in 4 fresh-focused stores. The system tracks visitor counts and time spent near shelves. It combines that data with POS sales information and recorded accuracy above 90%.
Trend dashboard
GS Retail also built a social media dashboard with BuildupLabs. It tracks food and dessert trends, including mention volume and spread stage. Merchandisers can use it to spot popular products early, and additional features are being developed.
GS25 plans to use the Vision AI findings for product assortment and store operations. GS Retail said it will keep applying startup technology to improve customer experience and business results. The program has reviewed about 320 startups and selected 18 companies since 2023.