Lush's seamless product recognition system relies on an extensive AI training process. The company captured hundreds of images of each product from multiple angles, building comprehensive datasets and creating robust machine learning models. This meticulous approach enables the system to instantly identify unpackaged products regardless of shape, color, or orientation, transforming a sustainability challenge into a technological advantage.

This is where Google Cloud plays a critical role. Lush uses Google Cloud Storage to host an extensive library of 550,000 images, and Vertex AI for machine learning that supports model development, training, and deployment. Already some 800 products can be scanned by staff at the till and Lush continues to add new items, ensuring the system remains accurate and responsive as its product range evolves. Lush Lens also provides the business with a healthy pool of transaction data, which can be extracted and analyzed to drive smart business decisions.

By digitizing product information and streamlining transactions, Lush has significantly improved operational efficiency, accelerated checkout speeds, and improved inventory management and billing accuracy. This unified approach to environmental responsibility and cutting-edge technology not only delivers an exceptional customer experience, but it also supports Lush’s commitment to inclusivity by removing barriers for employees with learning differences.

“Integrating Lush Lens into our mobile tills significantly supports new staff during training. It also enhances Lush App usage by allowing us to demonstrate its features to customers in-store, minimizing consultation disruptions and reminding them to use the app at home for product information,” Says Dawn. “Notably, during the Christmas peak in Glasgow, queue times dramatically reduced from out-the-door to around just 3 minutes thanks to Lush Lens on the tills.”

Above all, the solution keeps Lush at the forefront of sustainable retail. Since 2023, Lush Lens scans have reduced the need for packaging and demonstration materials to the tune of 220,000 ballistic bags, 440,000 liters of water and products worth £352,000. The deployment of Lush Lens also shows how Google Cloud AI can address specific retail challenges while supporting key business goals, in this case sustainability, efficiency, and exceptional customer service. When it comes to proving how AI can drive meaningful change in retail, Lush is leading the way.