Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) reports…

The Lidl supermarket chain in Ireland is offering its customers a new online chatbot tool that can help shoppers socially distance during the COVID-19 crisis. Customers send the chatbot a message through WhatsApp the time and date they plan to visit a specific store and it will let them know if that’s a quieter, average, or busier time to shop.

According to Lidl’s LinkedIn page, “This innovative approach uses real-time data and customer transaction numbers to determine which hours of the day are quietest to visit and which are busiest, allowing for customers to plan their shopping trips accordingly.”

Not a bad idea. I know I seem to choose the wrong time to visit my grocery store and end up waiting outside for 10 minutes before I get to go in. And as I recall Lidl can get pretty busy. (Lidl is very reminiscent of Aldi.)