Hello Omni Talk Fans! Two tech trends appear on the upswing – AI voice ordering assistance and in-store audio retail media.
In today’s Retail Daily Minute:
- Home Depot is rolling out an AI voice agent phone system to all U.S. stores after a 50-store pilot showed the technology resolves customer calls four times faster than traditional phone menus, while keeping human associates in the loop for complex inquiries.
- Sam’s Club is expanding its Member Access Platform retail media network to include fuel pump screens, in-club radio through Sam’s Club Radio, and new omni experiences like Race to the Club with Andretti Global and Sam’s Football Club.
- Casey’s General Stores has renewed and expanded its AI-powered ordering partnership with SoundHound AI, which has already handled more than 21 million guest interactions across more than 2,600 Casey’s locations.
Plus, my full lineup of interviews from last week’s RTS conference in London, including one with retail legend Archie Norman of M&S, and a movie quote from another famous English Archie.
👇 Listen now
Today’s Top Headlines
1. Home Depot Rolls Out AI Voice Agents Across All US Stores
Home Depot is rolling out an AI voice agent phone system across all U.S. stores, resolving customer calls four times faster than traditional phone menus. The system understands natural language queries within 10 seconds, handles basic tasks like order tracking, and seamlessly routes complex calls to live store associates nationwide. (Read More)
2. Sam’s Club Adds Audio Ads and Fuel Screens to MAP Network
Sam’s Club expands its MAP retail media network with new in-club audio ads, fuel screen placements, and highly immersive omni experiences like Race to the Club and Sam’s Football Club, connecting brand touchpoints seamlessly across the full member journey — from parking lot to fuel pump to aisle and beyond. (Read More)
3. Casey’s Expands AI Ordering Partnership With SoundHound
Casey’s General Stores renews and expands its partnership with SoundHound AI, scaling voice-powered ordering agents to over 2,600 locations. The technology has handled 21 million guest interactions, reducing missed orders during peak times and helping team members operate efficiently across the convenience store chain. (Read More)
4. Walmart Partners With OpenAI and Google to Train Staff on AI
Walmart is training all 2.1 million employees in AI skills, partnering with OpenAI and Google Gemini on role-specific certifications via its Squiggly platform. The retailer runs four internal agent platforms, blending custom and external LLMs to reduce friction for associates — from stock room lookups to real-time customer language translation. (Read More)
5. White Castle Teams Up With ART to Launch Hot Food Kiosks
White Castle partners with Automated Retail Technologies to launch Crave & Go hot-food kiosks, starting with 1,000 locations across campuses, hospitals, and corporate sites. The automated kiosks bring the chain’s iconic sliders to high-traffic venues beyond traditional restaurants, with menu expansion and broader rollout planned throughout 2026. (Read More)
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— Chris and the entire Omni Talk team
Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.