Bol adds AI right next to the search bar

Starting today,Bol is making its AI shopping assistant, Shophulp, available to all customers. The beta version is designed to help consumers choose products less through keywords and filters and more through conversation.

Toward personalized guidance

Shophulp is now located next to the search bar in the app and on the website. Customers can describe what they’re looking for in plain language, after which the assistant asks follow-up questions, compares products, and makes recommendations based on factors such as product features, prices, and delivery times. For example, someone going camping for the first time can enter their destination, the season, and the number of travelers. Shophulp can then suggest suitable products and put together a packing list or shopping list.

Upon request, the assistant can also take previous purchases and wish lists into account. With this, Bol is taking the next step toward more personalized product recommendations. “We’re seeing online shopping shift from searching and comparing to personalized guidance,” says Ronald van Rijn, Chief Product, Technology & Data Officer at Bol.

Discoverability is also changing for sales partners, as Shophulp looks not only at search terms but also at product information and features. As a result, high-quality product data is becoming even more important for those who want to be found through Bol. Bol has been testing the assistant over the past few months with a limited group of users and is now rolling out the beta version to all customers.