Inspectorio and Dick’s Sporting Goods Expand Partnership; Lectra Invests in AI Firm Six Atomic
Klarna, the payment and technology company, announced in September that it has enhanced its AI-powered chatbot, which is driven by OpenAI technology. The upgraded chatbot now allows consumers to search for items based on specific features, such as top-rated vegan leather pants. Additionally, it tailors recommendations to reflect individual shopping habits, such as suggesting colorful sneakers for those who frequently purchase them. The tool can also compare prices and provide a balanced analysis of products.
Klarna revealed that users can now browse more than 5.6 million products from thousands of retailers. The company is committed to expanding AI both for customer use and internally. In May, Klarna reported that nine in ten of its employees utilize AI in their daily work.
David Fock, Klarna’s chief product & design officer, highlighted the company’s ambition to further develop AI for customer engagement. He said, “For years, the tech industry has assumed that the online shopping experience was dominated by a few large players, leading to underinvestment. That’s created an opportunity for companies like Klarna, and we are enlisting AI to challenge the incumbents.”
In a related development, Inspectorio recently announced that its client, Dick’s Sporting Goods, will adopt its technology as the retailer’s traceability platform. Dick’s, which has used Inspectorio’s Responsible Sourcing and Inspection platform for over three years, will now utilize additional tools such as Traceability, Transparency, Production Monitoring, and Lab Testing. The partnership enables Dick’s to centralize lab test data, streamline sourcing operations, and automate audit management.
Antonio Leon de la Barra, Inspectorio’s vice president of strategy, growth, and innovation, stated, “The Inspectorio platform weaves traceability and responsible sourcing into broader sourcing operations unlike any other provider on the market.” He added that they are proud to collaborate with Dick’s Sporting Goods to implement their technology across the retailer’s product categories.
Meanwhile, Lectra, a software company, announced in September a partnership with Six Atomic, a firm specializing in AI and automation to optimize fashion and apparel product development. Lectra acquired an 18% minority stake in Six Atomic for $2.5 million, with an option to increase the investment in the future.
Maximilien Abadie, Lectra’s chief strategy and product officer, said the partnership strengthens their ability to support fashion companies. “Six Atomic is an innovative company combining AI expertise with a deep understanding of fashion design and product development processes,” he stated.
Six Atomic’s AI technology helps designers by creating data-driven pattern libraries, grading patterns efficiently, and producing accurate 3D renderings, significantly reducing product development time. Co-founders Taime Koe and Marc Close remarked that the investment from Lectra will accelerate the growth of their technology, noting that Lectra’s experience and global presence will drive their solutions to market faster.