Temple & Webster launches visual search tool

templewebster1Following the lead of fashion retailers like Cue and The Iconic, Temple & Webster has launched a visual search tool on its website and mobile app.

Using the ‘camera search’ button, shoppers can take a picture of anything they like and in a matter of seconds the Temple & Webster site will display visually similar items from a catalogue of 130,000 products.

Temple & Webster CEO Mark Coulter said the technology will help shoppers make purchase decisions.

“Buying furniture and homewares is an emotional decision, and imagery is key to unlocking that emotion. Image search is the next step in enabling us to deliver our vision of making the world more beautiful, one room at a time,” he said.

The tool was developed with US-based AI experts GrokStyle and uses deep machine learning technology to recognise products accurately and quickly and improve over time.

By recognising which products users end up clicking on within the search results, the technology refines how it matches items to images and learns which products are most relevant to customers.

“AI technology is having a hugely transformative effect on a range of industries globally and we recognised early-on the opportunities that it holds for the furniture and homewares space,” Temple & Webster’s chief information officer, Mike Henriques, said, noting that the business is the first Australian homewares and furniture retailer to launch a visual search capability.

“We’re constantly improving our shopping experience for our customers, whether that’s offering them a wider product selection or better ways to shop. We all know what we like when we see it. Now, when you see something you like, all you have to do is take a picture and we’ll match it to our range of products.”

This story first appeared on sister site Internet Retailing.

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