How Australian Retail Is Being Reshaped by AI (Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi, Myer)

Australia’s major retailers are deploying AI at scale: and the lessons are directly applicable to small retailers who want to compete smarter. Here’s what Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi, and Myer are actually doing.

Bunnings

Bunnings (Wesfarmers) is using AI for inventory forecasting and replenishment: predicting demand by store, season, and region to reduce stockouts and overstock. They are also deploying computer vision in distribution centres to speed up order picking. For the consumer-facing side, Bunnings’ app uses AI for product recommendations and search. Wesfarmers has flagged AI as a group-wide priority, with dedicated investment in their OneDigital data platform.

JB Hi-Fi

JB Hi-Fi uses AI primarily for personalised marketing and dynamic pricing. Their email and app communications are AI-personalised based on purchase history. JB Hi-Fi also uses AI for fraud detection in their online store and has tested AI-assisted customer service tools to handle high-volume enquiries during peak periods.

Myer

Myer has been one of the more public about its AI investments. They use AI for visual search (find products by uploading a photo), personalised styling recommendations, and demand forecasting. Myer’s loyalty program (Myer One) feeds AI models that predict which customers are likely to churn or respond to specific offers.

What Small Retailers Can Take From This

• Inventory forecasting: tools like Cin7, DEAR Systems, and even Shopify’s built-in analytics use AI to predict demand. You don’t need Bunnings’ budget to get smarter about stock.
• Personalised email marketing. MailerLite, Klaviyo, and similar tools now include AI segmentation. Send the right offer to the right customer, not a blast to everyone.
• Visual search and product descriptions. AI can write your product descriptions and help customers find products by image. Both are available through tools like Shopify and WooCommerce plugins.
• Dynamic pricing: for online retailers, AI pricing tools can adjust prices based on competitor activity and demand signals.

The gap between enterprise and small business AI is closing. The same capabilities available to Myer’s data team are available to a boutique retailer in Ballarat: the tools are just packaged differently.

Related: How to Set Up an AI Chatbot for Your Website in Under an Hour | Klaviyo vs MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign for Australian Small Business

Further reading: AI guides by industry | Best AI Tools for Australian Small Business

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Sources and Further Reading

• Wesfarmers. Bunnings Overview
• JB Hi-Fi. About
• Myer. About Us
• Australian Retailers Association. News
• National Retail Association. Research and Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What Small Retailers Can Take From This?

Myer has been one of the more public about its AI investments. They use AI for visual search (find products by uploading a photo), personalised styling recommendations, and demand forecasting. Myer’s loyalty program (Myer One) feeds AI models that predict which customers are likely to churn or respond to specific offers.

Sources and Further Reading?

The gap between enterprise and small business AI is closing. The same capabilities available to Myer’s data team are available to a boutique retailer in Ballarat: the tools are just packaged differently.

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