Technology

Canadian retailers enhancing customer experience through generative AI, finds KPMG in Canada survey

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2024

Retailers say they must invest in generative AI to compete, and many are already using it for fraud detection, inventory management and personalizing the shopping experience

TORONTO, May 24, 2024 /CNW/ – Canadian retailers are embracing generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, with many integrating it into their organizations or planning to integrate in the near term to boost productivity, predict demand and offer personalized experiences to customers, new KPMG in Canada research shows.

In a recent survey of executives from 135 Canadian retailers across numerous sectors, more than eight in 10 respondents (81 per cent) said they must invest in generative AI to stay competitive, and 81 per cent agreed they need to shift to a generative AI operating model in the next 12 months to stay competitive.

Nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) said they already have a generative AI solution of some sort in place at their organizations, and another four in 10 (39 per cent) are planning to implement their first generative AI solution within the next six months.

The most common uses for generative AI among retail respondents include:

Detecting fraud by raising red flags for suspicious transactions (69 per cent)Predicting product demand, optimizing inventory levels (68 per cent)Offering personalized product recommendations in customer-tailored conversation styles (67 per cent)Powering product search engines by making it easier to understand customer search inquiries (67 per cent)Inbound and outbound Scheduling/Truckload Optimization (67 per cent)

“It is clear Canadian retailers see generative AI as critical to their futures,” says Kostya Polyakov, partner and national industry leader of KPMG in Canada’s Consumer and Retail practice. “The challenge is identifying use cases that add value to organizations since there are a myriad of ways retailers can use the technology to become more efficient, productive and profitable.”

“Generative AI is a natural fit for retail: it can personalize the customer experience, allow more precise forecasting and improve the supply chain. More than 80 per cent of Canadian retailers we surveyed will be utilizing the tech this year. For the 20 per cent not there yet, they face a huge competitive disadvantage that will only grow as those using it find more and more ways to leverage its powers. Generative AI is not something for the future – it is now table stakes for Canadian retailers,” adds Mr. Polyakov.

While uses of large language models will continue to grow, it will be important for Canadian retailers to adopt a responsible use of generative AI framework inside their businesses to ensure this technology is used responsibly.

Key survey highlights:

38 per cent of respondents have a generative AI solution already in place39 per cent are planning to implement their first generative AI solution in the next six months17 per cent are planning to implement generative AI in the next 12 months90 per cent agree generative AI is helping to or will help grow their company’s revenue and/or market share growth39 per cent expect generative AI to boost revenue by six to 10 per cent; 26 per cent see a 10 to 15 per cent per cent revenue boost; and 23 per cent see a three to five per cent gain42 per cent expect generative AI to improve sales return on investment (ROI) of between 10 to 20 per cent; 41 per cent expect a boost of between 6 to 10 per cent.

Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) respondents said generative AI can help to better inform their marketing campaigns and personalize shopping experiences for customers, and 88 per cent agreed the technology can create stunning visuals for product launches and reduce photography costs. However, nearly eight in 10 (78 per cent) expressed concern about how consumers would respond to AI-generated imagery, something Mr. Polyakov says retailers need to be mindful of in addition to the continually developing rules around intellectual property in light of generative AI.

“Consumers are increasingly using generative AI tools themselves, and many are savvy enough to be able to spot AI-generated material. Retailers need to think carefully about how they’re using the technology, because it could create reputational, legal and financial risks if not used properly and responsibly. Having proper guardrails and controls around the technology is a must,” says Peter Hughes, National Customer Experience Practice Leader, KPMG in Canada.

Generative AI in the supply chain

While respondents reported already using generative AI numerous ways in their organizations, less than half (46 per cent) have applied the technology within their supply chains, with 34 per cent of respondents planning to implement it in the future.

Of respondents using or planning to use generative AI in their supply chain, four in 10 (43 per cent) said their primary reason is to unlock prescriptive analytic capabilities for customer or sales order fulfillment, such as tapping in-house and external data to identify SKUs and make recommendations to category managers to adjust pricing, promotions, assortment, and delivery and provide mitigation options. Other major drivers include: the ability to analyze information across disparate systems (35 per cent); generating accurate sales predictions based on historical data, trends, seasonality (34 per cent); and inventory optimization (34 per cent).

“Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize supply chain management, logistics and procurement, but only if it’s underpinned by reliable, quality data – that’s where many organizations face challenges. Their data is not managed and organized in an optimal way,” says Mr. Polyakov.

Indeed, two-thirds of respondents said one of the main challenges to implementing AI is having non-validated, inaccurate data inputs, which, if used to train the large language models that underpin generative AI platforms, could potentially lead to “hallucinations” or inaccurate or misleading outputs. Seven in 10 (71 per cent) of respondents said their inability to access or leverage data is also a challenge in implementing generative AI.

“Retailers have access to enormous amounts of data – including customer data, sales data and supplier data to name a few – and that data can be leveraged for using generative AI. But to make that data useful for a generative AI system, retailers must make sure it’s clean, organized and structured. That’s a crucial part of any successful generative AI implementation,” Mr. Polyakov adds.

About the survey

KPMG in Canada surveyed executive level C-suite decision makers at 135 Canadian retail companies, using Sago’s premier business research panel. The survey was conducted between April 30 – May 6, 2024. Thirty per cent of the companies surveyed have annual gross revenue between $400 million to $599.9 million; 23 per cent have $1 billion or more; and 21 per cent have between $200 million and $399.9 million. No respondents under $200 million in annual revenue were included in the survey. Twenty-nine per cent are in the grocery and supermarket sector, 22 per cent are in the health, beauty and drug sectors and 17 per cent are in the clothing and accessories sector. Thirty-seven per cent are based in Ontario, 24 per cent in Quebec, 10 per cent in B.C, and nine per cent in Alberta. The remaining respondents are from other regions across Canada.

About KPMG in Canada

KPMG LLP, a limited liability partnership, is a full-service Audit, Tax and Advisory firm owned and operated by Canadians. For over 150 years, our professionals have provided consulting, accounting, auditing, and tax services to Canadians, inspiring confidence, empowering change, and driving innovation. Guided by our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better, KPMG employs more than 10,000 people in over 40 locations across Canada, serving private- and public-sector clients. KPMG is consistently ranked one of Canada’s top employers and one of the best places to work in the country.

The firm is established under the laws of Ontario and is a member of KPMG’s global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a private English company limited by guarantee. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. For more information, see kpmg.com/ca

For media inquiries:
Alannah Page
National Communications and Media Relations
KPMG in Canada
(306) 934-6255
alannahpage@kpmg.ca

SOURCE KPMG LLP

Technology

AI-Powered Connectivity: APAC Charts a Path to a Smarter Digital Future

Published

3 hours ago

July 18, 2026

Asia-Pacific’s first Broadband Development Summit brings regulators and operators to Bangkok to set the agenda

BANGKOK, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Government officials, standards bodies and telecom operators gathered in Bangkok on 14 July for the inaugural Broadband Development Summit APAC 2026, convened by the World Broadband Association (WBBA) to build consensus on AI-era networks.

Participants included the ITU, Thailand’s National Board of the Digital Economy and Society, WBBA, IAB, FNCAP, WAA, NIDA and the IPv6 Council, alongside operators Telkomsel, XLSmart, Surge, Globe, AIS, CMI and HKT and Huawei.

Denny Deng, President of Huawei Asia Pacific Carrier Business, envisions a “faster, smarter, greener” Asia-Pacific.

VOICES FROM THE SUMMIT

“To seize the opportunities of the AI era, we call on the industry to accelerate broadband evolution, advance computing-network synergy, and strengthen the cross-border connectivity. Together, let us build faster, smarter, and greener digital infrastructure for Asia-Pacific.”
— Denny Deng, President of Asia Pacific Carrier Business, Huawei

“High-speed broadband is no longer just about ‘getting online’ — it is the vital infrastructure upon which the entire AI revolution is being built. We view AI not merely as a tool, but as a primary engine for national competitiveness and a catalyst for improving the quality of life for all.”
— Wetang Phuangsup, Ph.D., Secretary-General, the National Board of the Digital Economy and Society, Thailand

“Three initiatives define the road to 2030. We must close the quality divide so the value of broadband reaches everyone. We must build AI-ready networks — 10G access, 800GE cores, intelligence end to end. And we must do it together, through shared standards.”
— Martin Creaner, Director General of WBBA

“Moving towards next-generation networks, network architectures must continue to evolve to deliver broader connectivity, superior quality, enhanced security, and greater intelligence. This evolution is essential for Net5.5G, positioning the network not simply as infrastructure, but as the foundation that enables AI, strengthens resilience and efficiency, and supports digital transformation across industries.”
— Dhruv Dhody, Industry Standardization Expert at Huawei, Chair of the IAB, IETF

“Across Asia-Pacific, fibre is extending beyond homes and offices into rooms, devices, and machines. By working together, we can accelerate fibre innovation and adoption to build truly AI-ready infrastructure.”
— Ilham Nandana, Chair of the Market Intelligence Committee, Fiber Network Council APAC (FNCAP)

“We fixed it before you feel it! AIS is redefining premium home broadband by combining ultra-fast connectivity with AI-driven network intelligence and smart home ecosystem — delivering proactive, invisible service excellence that transforms connectivity into differentiated customer value and sustainable ARPU growth.”
— Thanit Chaiyaboonthanit, Head of Technology Department, Broadband Business, AIS

“Connecting the Unconnected: Affordable Broadband at Scale. Create equal access to global information and empower Indonesia’s digital society.”
— Shannedy Ong, CTO of Surge Indonesia

“Beyond Connectivity: Telkomsel is transforming into a true value creator. By leveraging our FBB market-leading footprint, we power growth through service excellence, customer loyalty, and a next-generation home ecosystem.”
— Stanislaus Susatyo, Director of Sales, Telkomsel Indonesia

“We stopped treating AI as an add-on feature. Instead, our approach at Globe starts with architecture, embedding intelligence into the very core of how we build, how we sell, and how we operate.
AI continuously monitors network health, customer behavior and service quality. Rather than waiting for failures, the system predicts degradation and initiates corrective actions. By maintaining minute-level awareness of network health, our systems automatically resolve 30% of all Wi-Fi issues without any human intervention.”
— Danny Theseira, Head of Broadband Business Group at Globe Telecom

“Huawei is driving the Optics-AI Synergy to foster their collaborative growth. Through AI-ON, operators could build an AI-centric all-optical target network and establish 1-5-20ms latency circles across the Asia Pacific region. AI-ON also supports efficient computing access and usage while delivering an ultimate network experience through gigabit/ultra-gigabit home broadband, accelerating the widespread adoption of AI services.”
— Kim Jin, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Optical Business Product Line, Huawei

“Connectivity is not just about technology. It is a lifeline, a platform for opportunity, and a driver of sustainable development. I believe the intersection of connectivity and artificial intelligence will shape the future of smarter, more resilient networks.”
— Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU

“Performance and user experience are the essential path to the next-generation WLAN. Based on standards and AI-driven innovation, let’s jointly explore the path to the future autonomous WLAN with all the stakeholders.”
— Dr. Crane H. Yang, Secretary-General, World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA)

“At the summit, NIDA and WBBA signed an MOU to accelerate next-generation network evolution and establish pioneering smart city benchmarks through the co-development of industry standards, the harmonization of global regulations, and the sharing of vertical industry insights.
NIDA focuses on advancing network architecture standards, while WBBA drives global consensus on broadband evolution. This natural strategic complementarity creates vast opportunities for future collaboration.”
— Joey Deng, Secretary-General of NIDA

“ION-2030 develops the global standard for next generation optical networks in the AI era. It provides exceptional AI application and service experience. The WBBA and ITU will jointly accelerate its development, and this is a unique opportunity for Asia-Pacific stakeholders to actively influence the future of optical broadband networks.”
— Dr. Marcus Brunner, Chief Expert Standardization, WBBA WG1 Chair and Vice-Chair of ETSI ISG F5G

“The transition into the AI era demands a high-quality, deterministic digital foundation. By releasing Net5.5G policy guidelines, Malaysia is accelerating the evolution of next-generation network standards based on IPv6, establishing an innovative infrastructure to unleash AI’s value and drive a prosperous digital economy for 2030.”
— Prof. Sureswaran Ramadass, Chair of APAC at IPv6 Council, Industry Partner of WBBA

“The digital economy is thriving across the Asia-Pacific region, with AI emerging as a core catalyst for intelligent transformation. China Mobile International (CMI) is driving regional growth by integrating China’s advanced AI capabilities with comprehensive communications, computing, and AI services. Moving forward, CMI will collaborate closely with industry partners to foster a shared, AI-driven future for the region.”
— Paul Lin, Managing Director of Commercial and Technology, Asia Pacific, China Mobile International

“Next-generation network infrastructure is the oxygen of the intelligent economy. By integrating cutting-edge 800G connectivity with quantum-safe security, HKT is laying the essential foundations to keep Hong Kong’s enterprises highly competitive, secure, and ready for the computing paradigm shifts of tomorrow.”
— Wilson Cheung, Vice President, Broadband Design & Cyber Security, HKT

“The evolution toward Net5.5G AI WAN is an important step in strengthening XLSMART’s transport network for the future. By progressively adopting AI-assisted operations, SRv6, SDN, service differentiation, and higher-capacity transport infrastructure, we are enhancing network intelligence, operational efficiency, and service resilience while supporting long-term sustainability. This transformation is a continuous journey that aligns with the industry’s vision of AI-native broadband networks. Through collaboration with our technology partners and the broader ecosystem, we will continue to develop capabilities that deliver better network performance and support Indonesia’s growing digital connectivity needs.”
— Regie Ginanjar, Head of Transport Autonomy & Orchestration, Transport Network Transformation, XLSMART

“For the AI era, Huawei upgrades the IP bearer network via security resilience, multi-dimensional awareness, and network autonomy. This empowers carriers to guarantee service experience, accelerate monetization, and enhance efficiency, ushering in a new chapter of intelligent connectivity.”
— Arthur Wang, Vice President of Data Communication Product Line, Huawei

A CONVERGING VIEW

Speakers agreed AI is shifting networks from connectivity to intelligent connectivity, as broadband, IP, computing and cross-border infrastructure converge to support innovation and coordination.

WBBA launched the AI-Net Certification, a global benchmark for national policy, industrial ecosystems and network intelligence. XLSmart was named first AI-Net Champion, and Indonesia was among the first with a certified operator, backed by its Net5.5G roadmap.

In another high-profile segment, WBBA Director General Martin Creaner presented the Gigacity Certification to KOMDIGI, SURGE, Telkomsel, AIS, TRUE, HKT and Globe, recognizing regional broadband pioneers.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ai-powered-connectivity-apac-charts-a-path-to-a-smarter-digital-future-302829032.html

SOURCE HUAWEI

Technology

Laifen Expands U.S. Retail Footprint with Costco Launch of Best-Selling SE Hair Dryer

Published

4 hours ago

July 18, 2026

Starting July 18, Costco Members Can Shop Laifen’s Award-Winning Hair Dryer in Select Warehouse Locations Across the U.S.

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Laifen, ranked the world’s No.1 high-speed hair dryer brand, today announced the launch of its best-selling SE High-Speed Hair Dryer at select Costco warehouse locations, marking the brand’s largest U.S. retail expansion to date and bringing its award-winning haircare technology to Costco members across select U.S. markets.

The launch brings Laifen’s award-winning haircare technology to Costco, making it easier for consumers to experience the brand through one of the nation’s leading membership retailers. Laifen joins Costco’s growing portfolio of premium beauty and personal care brands. The initial rollout includes select Costco warehouse locations across the United States, with a strong presence across the Western U.S., including California, the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest.

Costco’s reputation for quality and its highly selective merchandising approach make this partnership especially meaningful. The Costco launch reflects Laifen’s continued expansion beyond direct-to-consumer channels as the brand accelerates its U.S. omnichannel retail strategy. “Costco represents an important milestone in our U.S. retail strategy,” said Romeo, General Manager of International Business of Laifen. “As more consumers seek salon-quality performance at an accessible price, we’re excited to make Laifen available through one of America’s most trusted retailers.”

Engineered to deliver professional-level performance in a sleek, lightweight design, the Laifen SE is powered by the brand’s proprietary high-speed brushless motor, delivering fast drying, reduced heat damage and smoother styling. An intelligent temperature control system continuously monitors airflow to help minimize frizz while protecting hair from excessive heat.

The Costco launch represents the next phase of Laifen’s U.S. retail expansion as the brand continues to grow beyond its direct-to-consumer and online channels. By expanding into one of the nation’s most trusted retailers, Laifen aims to broaden access to its category-disrupting haircare solutions while advancing its mission to bring more thoughtful design and everyday excellence into more homes.

The Laifen SE High-Speed Hair Dryer in White will be available at select Costco locations, while Costco.com shoppers will have access to additional color options including Purple and Pink, alongside the White model.

For more information on Laifen, please visit LaifenTech.com.

About Laifen:

Founded in 2019, Laifen is a global personal care technology brand combining high-performance engineering with modern design across hair care, oral care, and grooming categories. Ranked the world’s No. 1 high-speed hair dryer brand by Euromonitor International, Laifen first gained recognition for its self-developed 110,000 RPM high-speed brushless motor, the proprietary technology behind its award-winning hair dryers.

Building on this innovation, Laifen has expanded its portfolio to include electric toothbrushes and shavers, delivering premium technology and elevated everyday experiences to consumers worldwide. Today, Laifen products and accessories are used by over 22 million households across more than 60 countries, supported by more than 600 patents and recognized with over 50 international design and innovation awards. Driven by continuous technological breakthroughs, Laifen is committed to making cutting-edge personal care technology more accessible to consumers around the world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laifen-expands-us-retail-footprint-with-costco-launch-of-best-selling-se-hair-dryer-302828573.html

SOURCE Laifen

Technology

Pillsbury Notice of Data Breach

Published

7 hours ago

July 18, 2026

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (“Pillsbury”) was among many law firms targeted by sophisticated social engineering attempts in an incident last year. While the firm quickly detected and blocked the activity, an unauthorized actor was able to access some of the firm’s documents during a short window of time. Pillsbury notified any impacted clients last year and undertook a detailed process to review the accessed documents for personal information. Pillsbury then began notifying individuals whose personal information was affected. That process is now complete, and today, Pillsbury is publishing substitute notice as a final step.

For more information, please visit the substitute notice on our website at https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/breach-notice.html.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pillsbury-notice-of-data-breach-302828892.html

SOURCE Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP