Sainsbury's commercial and technology teams are working with Accenture to implement machine learning processes that they say are providing the retailer with better insight into consumer behaviour. Using the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), the key aim of the collaboration is to generate new insights on what consumers want and the trends driving their eating habits. By tapping into data from multiple structured and unstructured sources, the supermarket chain has developed predictive analytics models that it uses to adjust inventory based on the trends it spots. According to Alan Coad, managing director of Google Cloud in the UK and Ireland, the platform can "ingest, clean and classify that data", while a custom-built front-end interface for staff can be used "to seamlessly navigate through a variety of filters and categories" to generate the relevant insights. Phil Jordan, group CIO of Sainsbury's, said: "The grocery market continues to change rapidly. "We know our customers want high quality at great value and that finding innovative and distinctive products is increasingly important to them.

AirAsia said it would transform into a "travel technology" company, tapping Google Cloud to integrate machine learning and artificial intelligence in its operations. The Southeast Asian carrier will turn its booking website, airasia.com, "We are now in our next phase of development where we are expanding beyond air transport and digitalizing our operations and processes to become more efficient," AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said in a statement released Wednesday. The partnership between AirAsia and Google Cloud was announced at a recent event in London, according to the airline. "With our advanced analytics platform and machine learning services, AirAsia will be able to digitize every aspect of its business to better serve their customers," said Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene.