- AI tools like Glean empower store associates by providing instant access to real-time product information, inventory status, company policies, and customer insights, enabling faster, more informed, and personalized customer service across both digital and in-store channels.
- These AI systems streamline daily tasks and onboarding processes, reduce manual work, and help associates deliver tailored recommendations, leading to higher team efficiency, reduced customer frustration, and more engaging frontline roles.
- Glean integrates seamlessly with existing retail infrastructure, is easy for store teams to adopt, and has demonstrably increased sales, improved service quality, and reduced return rates for retailers that have implemented it.
In today’s fast-moving retail landscape, store associates are being asked to do more than ever — answer complex questions, personalize service, manage inventory, and bridge the gap between digital and in-store experiences. But without the right tools, meeting those expectations can feel impossible.
That’s why more retailers are turning to AI to support their frontline teams. From surfacing real-time product and inventory data to delivering insights about customer preferences, AI is reshaping what store associates can do and how they do it. By giving employees faster access to information and reducing routine work, AI tools are helping teams move with greater speed, precision, and confidence.
What are AI tools for store associates?
AI tools for store associates are intelligent systems that give frontline employees real-time access to the knowledge they need — including product information, inventory status, company policies, and customer insights. These tools use natural language processing, machine learning, and retrieval-based AI to help associates make decisions quickly and confidently, even during peak periods.
Instead of navigating disconnected systems or relying on manual processes, associates can ask a question like “Is this item in stock in another location?” or “What are the return options for an online purchase?” and get an immediate, accurate response. This instant access to information removes friction from the employee experience and improves service for the customer.
AI tools also help associates move beyond task execution. With visibility into customer preferences, past purchases, and loyalty status, associates can make more informed recommendations, offer tailored promotions, and guide shoppers through complex decisions. In this way, AI doesn’t replace the human element — it enhances it, enabling store teams to deliver more personalized and effective service.
Benefits of AI for store associates
AI gives store associates the support they need to do their jobs more effectively. By simplifying daily tasks, providing real-time insights, and cutting down on manual work, these tools help employees serve customers with greater speed and confidence.
Fast, informed service
Store associates often field questions about product availability, sizing, compatibility, or return policies — and the answers aren’t always easy to find. AI makes it easier by providing instant access to inventory data and product information across both in-store and digital systems.
Instead of toggling between tools or relying on a manager, associates can quickly check what’s in stock, pull up product specs, or guide a customer through a return. With clear documentation at their fingertips, they can keep service moving and avoid long wait times.
Personalized customer interactions
Personalized service is no longer a differentiator — it’s the expectation. According to McKinsey, 80% of customers are more likely to buy when they receive a personalized experience, and 76% feel frustrated when they don’t (Source: McKinsey).
AI tools help store associates deliver on that expectation. By combining data from ecommerce, loyalty programs, and support systems, AI gives employees a complete view of each customer. They can make relevant product recommendations, apply targeted promotions, and create interactions that feel tailored to the individual. The kind of personalization that once lived online now extends to the store floor.
Simplified onboarding and training
Retailers face high turnover, and seasonal hiring cycles are the norm. Getting new associates up to speed quickly is critical, especially during busy periods.
AI can reduce onboarding time significantly by making answers easy to find. New employees can ask questions in natural language and get accurate, up-to-date guidance on store policies, product details, and common tasks. This self-service approach lightens the load on managers and helps new hires become productive faster. Retailers using Glean have seen onboarding time cut by as much as 50%.
More meaningful work
AI takes care of repetitive tasks like checking stock or searching for documentation, freeing up time for higher-value interactions. Associates can spend more time engaging with customers, solving problems, and contributing to team goals. That shift not only improves the customer experience but also helps employees feel more confident and invested in their work.
How AI tools like Glean work in retail stores
AI in retail isn’t about robots in the aisles or futuristic gadgets. It’s about giving store teams access to the right knowledge at the right moment. Glean makes that possible by connecting the systems and information associates rely on — and making it easy to search, understand, and act on.
Here’s how it works.
Real-time knowledge search
Retail associates often need quick answers: What’s our refund policy for curbside pickup? Is this item available in another size or location? Glean allows them to ask those questions in plain language and get accurate, trusted responses immediately.
Glean searches across ecommerce platforms, POS systems, policy documents, product specs, and more — so employees don’t have to jump between tools or wait for a colleague to respond. This helps keep lines moving, reduces customer frustration, and gives associates more time to focus on service.
Cross-channel customer context
Customers now move fluidly between online and in-store touchpoints. They might place an order online, call support about a delay, and then visit a store to follow up. According to McKinsey shoppers expect “consistent information at their fingertips, regardless of the channel they choose to engage with.”
Glean brings that consistency to life. By surfacing relevant customer history — including past purchases, loyalty status, open support cases, and eligibility for promotions — associates can deliver a more seamless experience. They’re able to pick up the conversation where it left off, even if it started in a completely different channel.
Proactive assistance through AI agents
Retailers often struggle to scale best practices across every store. Glean’s AI agents help solve that by delivering proactive recommendations and automating common workflows.
For example, a store manager might use an agent to notify employees when inventory for a popular product is running low. Another agent might surface relevant add-on items based on a shopper’s purchase history. These capabilities help associates make smarter decisions in the moment — without needing to memorize every process or campaign.
By giving store teams access to timely insights and task automation, Glean allows retailers to operate with greater consistency and agility across every location.
Implementing AI tools for store associates
Rolling out an AI platform like Glean begins with identifying the most valuable use cases for your retail teams. That might include shortening onboarding time, improving product visibility, delivering more personalized service, or helping associates resolve issues faster on the floor.
These are not long-term aspirations — they’re immediate priorities. In fact, 80% of retail executives expect their companies to adopt intelligent automation by 2025, and 40% have already started implementing it(Source: Analytics Insight). The industry is moving quickly, and retailers who act now are better positioned to lead.
Glean simplifies adoption by working within your existing infrastructure. It integrates with the systems your teams already use, including ecommerce platforms, marketing tools, customer support systems, and internal documentation. There’s no need to rebuild access controls or train employees on complex new software. Glean respects existing permissions and fits naturally into established workflows.
For many retailers, key focus areas include:
- Speeding up onboarding for seasonal and part-time employees
- Giving associates real-time access to accurate product and inventory data
- Empowering frontline teams to deliver personalized experiences across channels
- Supporting faster, more accurate customer service at the point of need
Once these priorities are mapped, it’s easy to start small. Many retailers begin with a pilot in one store or region, using clear metrics to track improvements in productivity, service quality, and associate satisfaction. From there, scaling Glean across the organization becomes a natural next step.
By keeping implementation focused, flexible, and aligned with real business goals, retailers can unlock value quickly — without disrupting daily operations.
Real-world outcomes: AI at work in the store
Retailers that have adopted Glean are already seeing meaningful results on the sales floor. In one example, associates increased sales per interaction by using Glean to identify relevant cross-sell and upsell opportunities based on customer behavior and purchase history.
Other teams have reduced return rates by providing more accurate product information at the point of sale. When customers have the right details upfront — whether about sizing, compatibility, or usage — they’re more likely to make the right purchase the first time. Associates also use Glean to walk shoppers through return and exchange processes, with step-by-step guidance that helps them resolve issues quickly and clearly. With all the product information at their fingertips, they can also offer personalized recommendations to increase the basket size.
These aren’t pilot experiments or hypothetical use cases. They’re practical, everyday applications that improve service, drive efficiency, and deliver measurable value to customers and employees alike.
Overcoming common challenges
Adopting AI in a retail environment can bring up valid concerns — from implementation complexity to employee training and data security. Glean is designed to address those concerns head-on.
- No need to start over. Glean integrates with more than 100 enterprise systems, so retailers can keep their existing workflows intact. There’s no need to rip and replace what’s already working.
- Security you can trust. Glean respects all existing data permissions and meets enterprise-grade standards, including SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance. Sensitive information stays protected at every level.
- Built for everyday use. Glean’s intuitive, conversational interface makes it easy for store associates to get started right away. There’s no complicated software to learn or lengthy training required.
By keeping implementation simple and user experience front and center, Glean helps retailers unlock value quickly. Teams can see results fast without adding unnecessary friction to the flow of daily work.
The future of retail is AI-enabled
Store associates are no longer just executing transactions. They’re delivering experiences, building loyalty, and representing the brand at every touchpoint. But they can’t do it alone. They need tools that keep pace with today’s customers and today’s complexity.
AI gives them that edge. With instant access to the right knowledge, associates can answer confidently, personalize service in the moment, and move seamlessly between digital and in-store interactions. It’s not just about working faster—it’s about working smarter.
Glean helps make that possible. By connecting systems, surfacing insights, and simplifying workflows, Glean empowers your frontline teams to deliver the kind of service today’s shoppers expect. The result is better experiences for customers, and better outcomes for the business.
Ready to see how Glean can support your frontline teams?
Watch our webinar with Etsy on-demand to find out how they’re using AI to deliver faster, smarter retail experiences.
Or request a demo to learn how Glean empowers your associates to deliver faster, more personalized service at every touchpoint.
