Google Express Shops Free at Costco

Interesting play that gives a quasi connection to a membership.

Google Express lets you shop at Costco without a membership   in Fastcompany

Good news for wannabe bulk shoppers: You no longer need a Costco membership to stock up on a case of Cup O’ Noodles, two 48 oz bottles of Listerine, and a bag of Kirkland signature tortilla chips the size of Rhode Island. As Delish just pointed out, no more borrowing your uncle’s Costco membership to reap the benefits of bulk buying! You just need to sign up for delivery on Google Express. .... " 

Wal-Mart on Voice Technology and AI

Wal-Mart commenting on voice tech an their work with Google on voice ordering.  Also notice the direct mention of AI as changing environment in the near future.  Appears Wal-Mart is involved here.   See also the expert comments in this piece. 

E-commerce chief expects Walmart to ‘crush it’ over next two years   by George Anderson in Retailwire

Bigger is better when it comes to online sales and operations. That was one of the messages delivered by Marc Lore, chief of Walmart’s e-commerce business in the U.S., at The Wall Street Journal’s D.Live technology conference earlier this week.

Mr. Lore said Walmart is reimagining what retail and e-commerce will look like in the years ahead and making investments on a wide scale to own that future.

“E-commerce is a scale game,” Mr. Lore told the Journal. “We’re looking at a lot of different things right now, everything, in every sector.” ....

The retailer has also engaged with Google to enable customers to order products by speaking to their Google Home device or a mobile phone that uses Google Assistant. Walmart’s customers will need to link their accounts with the retailer to Google Express to take advantage of voice ordering.

“People use it [voice activated tech] for weather, use it for transportation, a little bit of shopping,” Mr. Lore told CNET. “And I think many people are writing it off, saying it’s kind of clunky [or] I don’t think I’m going to shop that way.”

Mr. Lore does, however, see advancements in artificial intelligence over the next five to 10 years dramatically changing people’s attitudes about voice tech.  .... " 

Shopping Free with the Google Assistant

Starting an examination of the user experience of hands free voice shopping at well known retailers.   The Google Home assistant has this capability using what they call Google Express.  I just received some instructions by mail for shopping at Target, Costco and Walmart.   Simply expressed, seems easy.   Here are their Voice Orders from Google Home instructions.  More impressions to follow.

More on this effort, from retailers perspective.
Example of its use with Target.

Google Express Expanding in Retail

Another strong movement to online retail,  but I do note that many of these interactions are not exclusive.  Many retailers will likely look at multiple options. Who will provide the better and most engaging interaction, to the most people?

Okay Google, I want to order from Home Depot’   By George Anderson in Retailwire. With commentary.

Google is on a retail roll. Home Depot announced it will join Google Express this fall with shoppers being able to place voice orders using Google Assistant with the tech giant’s Home speaker device or mobile app. The Home Depot announcement comes just a couple of weeks after a similar announcement was made by Walmart.

With two of the largest retail chains in the world moving into voice with Google, the question becomes of more a matter of when than if with others selling on the Express platform. Other retailers on Google Express include Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, Kohl’s, Payless, Pier 1, Toys “R” Us, Ulta, Walgreens and others. .... " 

Shop Home Depot with Voice Using Google Home

Another voice based shopping example in place.  I would imagine that DIY interactions could often use visual interaction as well, so assuming the Google Home will provide that?

Home Depot adds ‘voice-activated’ shopping to the mix
By Deena M. Amato-McCoy in Chainstore Age

The nation's largest home improvement retailer is getting in on the voice shopping game.

Home Depot is joining Google Express this fall, a move that will give its customers the ability to shop just by speaking their orders. Google Assistant, the search giant's online shopping platform, resides on Google’s smart speaker Google Home and other smart devices. 

The new option expands Home Depot’s omnichannel strategy, which currently encompasses 2,282 store locations and a digital endless aisle available online and via mobile devices. By adding Google Assistant to the mix, customers will be able to shop via voice on Google Home devices, or the Google Express website or app. ... "