After testing several options, ADEO finally turned to Google Cloud, adopting Vertex AI and the Gemini Flash model. This choice was influenced by various factors: with more than 15 million references to manage, the company needed a solution capable of managing large volumes while offering optimal performance. In the retail sector, criteria such as response times make all the difference, since even the slightest delay can lead to purchases being abandoned.

The project started in July 2022. It involves two components: first, the classification of products with a model developed internally and trained with ADEO data which means, for example, a drill can be automatically classified in the tool category and, second, the automated generation of descriptions with Gemini Flash. ADEO's teams integrated Gemini Flash into the company's product information management (PIM) system. This integration, facilitated by the APIs offered by Vertex AI, allows the AI to automatically generate product listings based on the limited data provided by partners (usually a title and a short description) added to the knowledge of Gemini Flash.

More specifically, suppliers upload a CSV file containing the titles and summary descriptions of the products onto ADEO's PIM. Each product is then categorized by the classification model and Gemini Flash then takes over and offers a product listing. The supplier validates or corrects the description before putting it online.

The solution's rollout was particularly fast; it was completed in less than five months. Starting in November 2023, ADEO rolled out its project in Spain, then in Portugal, Italy, and more recently in Poland, the objective being to gradually cover the 20 countries in which the company is present.

Smooth, perfectly integrated, and guaranteeing accurate information, "this process of automated product listing generation has significantly reduced the time it takes to put a product online, which is a clear competitive advantage. At this point, we don't have precise metrics yet, but we are confident about the benefits, especially since our suppliers have reacted very positively: they particularly appreciate the ease of use and the gains in efficiency," explains Djamel Mostefa.

Although ADEO has not yet been able to measure the impact of the service on the conversion rate or the average cart, the company does have a very specific idea of the impact of AI on the quality of product listings: "Product attribute coverage has increased from 27% to 87% using generative AI, meaning our listings are much more accurate and comprehensive," Djamel Mostefa emphasizes. "And this accuracy gives companies a major competitive edge. Say a customer is looking for a blue product, which we have in stock, but the product listing doesn't mention this. The result? A missed sale due to a simple lack of information."

ADEO is already preparing for the next step: "We plan to expand the use of AI so as to also improve the descriptions of products we already have in our databases. Gemini Flash and Vertex AI have allowed us to speed up developments, without having to resort to specialized help because the solutions are so accessible. There are multiple advantages: better quality product listings, a simplified process for suppliers, and improved customer experience. There's also the added bonus of optimized product referencing, which increases our commercial potential," concludes Djamel Mostefa.