Retailer Aims to Compete with Klarna, Embrace AI and ML through £100m Deal

  • John Lewis considering developing a buy now pay later scheme similar to Klarna
  • Partnership with Google Cloud worth up to £100m
  • Technology migration to include AI and ML

John Lewis is considering the development of a buy now pay later (BNPL) scheme similar to Klarna, according to CEO Nish Kankiwala. The retailer has not yet partnered with an existing BNPL company but plans to create its own. Critics argue that BNPL encourages debt, while the government aims to regulate it. John Lewis also signed a £100m five-year deal with Google Cloud for technology migration, including AI and ML integration.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides relevant information about John Lewis considering implementing a buy now pay later scheme like Klarna, and their partnership with Google Cloud. It also mentions the potential benefits of this partnership for the company’s technology. However, it lacks details on how exactly the AI and ML will be used in the retail experience.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about John Lewis considering implementing a buy now pay later scheme and their partnership with Google Cloud. However, it could provide more details on the specifics of the BNPL plan and the benefits/risks associated with it, as well as more insights into how the AI and ML technologies will be utilized in their retail experience.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: John Lewis Partnership
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses John Lewis’s plans to develop a buy now pay later scheme and their partnership with Google Cloud, which will impact the company’s financial operations and potentially affect its financial performance.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk