S5 | Ep 20 | The Ocado Transformation Story: Redefining Grocery Through Data, AI & Automation with Gabriel Straub, Chief Data Officer at Ocado Technology

In Episode 20, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Gabriel Straub, Chief Data Officer at Ocado Group, where they discuss how data, AI and automation transformed Ocado and redefined the grocery sector, which includes;Utilising 3rd party technology and the realisation that it wasn’t good enough.Evolving from a grocery retailer into a global technology solutions provider.Building proprietary tech to solve challenges traditional systems couldn’t handle.Becoming market leaders for great customer experience.The journey to building and selling technology solutions to retailers all over the world.Why ML solutions became a necessity to provide a distinct customer proposition.The differences between operating an in-store versus online grocery retail business.Combining internal, external and P&L factors in prioritising use cases.Competing with an established model and changing the way people shop.The impressive fulfilment operations and the multiple iterations.Calculating the ROI of product optimisations.The relationship between innovation and company culture.The three main GenAI use cases.Having 150 ML use cases to enhance forecasting, reduce waste, and improve availability.The role of simulation in testing 500 years of operations in just one year.Why embedding data teams in product and engineering drives better outcomes.The importance of culture and long-term thinking in driving innovation.Leveraging GenAI to enhance workforce productivity and knowledge access.The potential for agent-based systems to transform internal operations and customer interactions.The benefits for retailers to partner with Ocado and leverage their technology.Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.