Home improvement chain Lowe’s has launched an AI tool aimed at improving customer service and speeding onboarding of shop assistants.

Called Mylow Companion, the app was purpose-built as a shop-assistant sales floor device. It provides fast access to product details, project advice and inventory information.

The launch to all sales staff across Lowe’s more than 1700 stores is said to mark the first time a retailer has implemented this kind of technology at scale.

Staff expertise is uniquely valuable for home improvement retailers, as customers ask daily about various complex projects and thousands of different products. Mylow Companion uses generative AI to tackle knowledge hurdles head-on. Whether they’re new to Lowe’s, working in their area of expertise, or supporting outside their department, Mylow Companion elevates the know-how of staff, enabling them to assist customers confidently.

“Mylow Companion is another example of Lowe’s living out its commitment to elevate the customer and associate experience,” said Seemantini Godbole, Lowe’s chief digital officer. “Whether associates have been on the job for five weeks or five years, they can be confident they’re delivering expert-level advice and assistance, and customers can trust they’re getting the best service and experience of any retailer.”

Mylow Companion is built on the same foundation as Mylow, Lowe’s customer-facing virtual advisor that was launched earlier this year. Mylow Companion and Mylow were both developed in collaboration with OpenAI and leverage Lowe’s expert advice to empower customers and staff with fast, helpful information. Lowe’s will continue introducing capabilities and refining functionality based on direct in-app feedback.

“Through our collaboration with Lowe’s, AI is making it faster and easier for their associates to help customers find exactly what they need for their most important projects,” said Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer at OpenAI (openai.com). “We’re excited to support Lowe’s transformation of retail by merging their industry-leading expertise in home improvement with our advanced AI capabilities.”

Staff can use Mylow Companion with natural, conversational prompts, including voice-to-text for faster, hands-free use. Whether they’re asked, “What kind of fertiliser works best for Bermuda grass?” or “How can I fix a leaky faucet?”, Mylow Companion can deliver actionable information on the handheld devices staff already use.

Based in North Carolina, Lowe’s (Lowes.com) is a home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week in the USA. With 2024 sales of more than $83bn, it operates 1700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 people.