Dive Brief:
- United Pacific, owner of the Alta Convenience and Rocket convenience store brands, has partnered with Lula Commerce on a number of digital tools, according to a Tuesday announcement from Lula.
- The partnership brings tools like real-time inventory management, integration with delivery platforms and customer engagement services to the retailer’s 600-plus convenience stores in 11 states.
- United Pacific is the latest convenience retailer turning to technology to help boost operations and customer experience while improving uptime.
Dive Insight:
United Pacific will be using Lula Operators, AI-powered agents designed to help the retailer automate its e-commerce operations, which can help ensure consistent uptime, efficient order processing and quick customer service.
“This is a huge opportunity to capture more digital customers, and additional share of market with those who prioritize efficient and quick options when shopping for everyday essentials,” said Bill Mullen, president of retail for Rocket.
The use of AI in convenience stores continues to grow, from RaceTrac installing remote forecourt monitoring to reduce pump downtime to 7-Eleven using it to reduce the time it takes to hire workers. United Pacific joins the trend of using it to automate and improve e-commerce, and joins companies like Par Mar and Circle K franchisee Gas Express in partnering with Lula.
Alta operates more than 100 sites in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Nebraska, while Rocket has more than 450 in California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, and other western states.
