Appliance and technology retailer Noel Leeming has introduced a new, digital team member based at its new flagship store at Westfield Newmarket, which is now open.

Noel Leeming said the digital employee, Nola, was created to help shoppers navigate the store and answer their queries.

“She’s highly conversational and has a database of queries and answers that will be updated as her training progresses,” said Tim Edwards, Noel Leeming CEO. 

“We’re excited to deliver this technology to our customers, and to see how Nola can help enhance their in-store experience.”

Nola’s knowledge and expertise will develop through interaction with customers over time, much like a human mind, and Noel Leeming said it would like to see her play a wider role across different platforms.

“She was designed to represent the best of parts of the Noel Leeming team and their customer service ethos,” the retailer stated.

Nola was created in partnership with UneeQ and Jade, providers of AI-powered technologies to enhance and personalise customer experiences. Jade software developed Nola’s conversation design and question and answer capabilities.

“Great AI should be designed to enhance what humans do,” said UneeQ CEO Danny Tomsett. “Noel Leeming understands this, and they’re leveraging technology as a tool to support and empower their in-store staff to achieve more for their customers.”