The Overview
Walmart has always understood the importance of providing a good search experience online for their 385 million visitors. When they set out to improve site search relevance and account for their ever-growing catalog, they needed a labeling partner who could produce high-quality datasets for their algorithms.
The Challenge
Walmart needed a labeling partner that could validate images and descriptions for their extensive product catalog, with feedback loops to ensure a high standard of quality.
High standard of label quality
12% of users will bounce to a competitor’s site after an unsatisfactory search. Walmart needed a high standard of label quality to shorten product discovery time.
Multiple dimensions for every SKU
Labeling many dimensions per product is time-intensive and requires skilled annotators. Walmart needed a partner to classify items, validate descriptions and images, and provide suggestions for new product types and tags.
Ability to scale with demand
Walmart’s needed a partner who could meet demand for an ever-growing catalog of SKUs, with the ability to scale labeling efforts on short notice.
98%
Improved retail store item coverage from 91-98%
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More accurate search results and better user experiences
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Better conversion rates and more revenue for Walmart
The Solution
Sama assembled a team of product attribute experts for Walmart:
- By 2019, Sama had covered more than 2.5 million items, improving Walmart’s retail item coverage from 91 to 98 percent.
- Visible enhancements in their product descriptions, images, and categorization.
“Quality is important to them. You really get the sense they are there for more than just the financial transaction. They are a true partner.”
Vamsi Madabhushi, Product Manager at Walmart Labs
Conclusion
Today, Sama continues to deliver accurate annotations for Walmart’s growing catalog of products. If you’re ever purchased a product through their online store, then you’ve likely benefited from the shortened product discovery time that high-quality labels can bring.
Better quality labels lead to better customer experiences. And in the world of e-commerce, happy customers reward you with their loyalty — bringing better conversion rates, higher average order values, and ultimately, increased revenue.
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Continental Demetrio Aiello, Head of the Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Labs
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Continental Demetrio Aiello, Head of the Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Labs
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Getty Images Steve Heck, CTO
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