German bookstore chain Thalia has revealed plans to integrate AI tools into its e-commerce website with the aim of helping grow the business and improving product discovery for customers.
Headquartered in Hagen, Thalia has more than 500 bookstores in German-speaking countries, 6,500 employees, and a large digital presence consisting of a website and an app. Over the next three years, the chain plans to double the number of items on its marketplace from 20 to 40 million. To achieve this, Thalia announced a new partnership with AI platform Coveo, whose aim is to improve product discovery, provide more personalized book recommendations, and reduce manual site maintenance.
Roland Kölbl, Chief Customer Officer at Thalia, commented: “Coveo is truly the right partner for us. With 10 years of AI experience, AI search and recommendations, and security strength, Coveo is the best choice to effectively support our strong growth goals in the digital space.”
Nick Bowles, managing director, EMEA at Coveo, added: “Thalia understands the importance of integrating AI into commerce experiences to create a great customer experience. The power of Coveo's AI platform comes into its own when it comes to providing relevant, personalized search and recommendations for brands with large and diverse catalogues, even when shoppers aren't logged in. We're sure Thalia's shoppers will enjoy the new experience and keep coming back.”
Thalia's new AI-powered website is expected to launch later this year.
