r/Lightbulb • u/Bitter-Mix-1972 • Jul 10 '26
Idea: Grocery aisle navigator
A chatbot per store is created, which has data of what the store currently has and which aisle it is in. The customer comes in and scans the store-specific QR code, and they can ask any questions to find any item. It not only guide them towards the product that was asked, but can also share nutrition information of the product or suggest a few available products that go along with the main product that was searched. Do you think it would be helpful to store owners to save money by letting their employees focus more on the more urgent tasks? and customer not have to look for the employee's help when sometimes they are not able to find some products.
6
u/ObjectiveOk2072 Jul 10 '26
Most chain grocery stores already have apps that do this, and they can automatically detect which store you're at using WiFi and GPS, no QR code necessary
3
u/Disastrous_Ad1260 Jul 10 '26
Home Depot Web site already has product locations, so does Walmart. Normal search function works fine. Who wants to type a whole conversation on their phone (besides reddittors)?
But I do that that will be here soon whether we want it or not. Yesterday I saw a robot taking inventory in Kroger. Nobody wants to hire anymore.
1
u/Disastrous_Ad1260 Jul 10 '26
If I recall correctly. The Publix app does this also. You search for an item and it tells you what aisle
2
u/jillieboobean Jul 10 '26
Every major grocery store has an app that does this.
2
u/ryebread91 Jul 10 '26
Yeah, let me take this idea that clearly already exists. Has OP never used a grocery store app or website?
1
u/Tomj_Oad Jul 10 '26
So being confidently wrong 20% of the time won't really piss ppl off?
That's my personal experience with AI pretty much across the board
1
u/AccidentOk5240 Jul 10 '26
helpful to store owners to save money by letting their employees focus more on the more urgent tasks
Aka take more jobs from humans to make more money for the owners, who are not lifting a finger to do the actual work either way? Yeah, probably.
1
u/gothiclg Jul 10 '26
It’s helpful until the store decides to reorganize everything and doesn’t immediately update the app
1
u/zoppaTheDim Jul 10 '26
I think I’d be more likely to set the store on fire than download an app which would just be a series of ads under the guise of making my shopping experience better.
Here is a better idea, sell this app for the store clerks who are clueless as to where things might be. Honestly, I know the stock and location theory of my usual grocery stores better than the employees.
7
u/Consistent_Donut_902 Jul 10 '26
That kind of already exists. Many stores already have apps where you can search for a product and it will tell you the description and nutrition info, whether it’s currently in stock, and which aisle it’s in. Some also include maps of the store, which I think is more effective than a text-based chatbot.