Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role across our solutions. With this in mind, we are announcing the signing of a three-year strategic partnership with NordAI, aimed at strengthening our AI capabilities and accelerating the development of practical solutions for the food distribution industry.
NordAI is already working with us within the transportation department, where its expertise supports several artificial intelligence initiatives. This agreement represents an important next step, as it specifically focuses on the sales and distribution departments, with the goal of further embedding AI into our technology platforms.
This partnership is designed to evolve our existing solutions by adding advanced modules that support field operations and enhance decision-making at all levels of the organization, particularly within sales and distribution activities.
In addition to our collaboration with Moov AI, we continue to build a strong ecosystem of specialized artificial intelligence partners. The addition of NordAI, led by its President and Co‑Founder William Garneau, reinforces our approach focused on practical solutions, aligned with operational realities and driven by business value.
« Food distribution is an industry where every decision counts and margins are tight. It’s exactly the kind of context where well-designed AI makes a tangible difference. By combining the expertise of CIS Group and NordAI over three years, we are giving ourselves the means to transform concrete use cases into sustainable operational advantages. »
— William Garneau, President & co‑fondateur of NordAI
A practical approach to artificial intelligence
In an environment where margin pressure and competition are very real, we take a pragmatic approach to artificial intelligence. The initiatives developed through this partnership are based on concrete use cases, built in collaboration with our teams and our clients, and focused on measurable results.
This approach relies on the seamless integration of AI into tools already used in the field, including CIS Companion, to support adoption and maximize the operational impact of new capabilities.
Advanced features under development in CIS Companion
Among the innovations currently underway, we are working on the integration of computer vision capabilities within the CIS Companion platform. These features will enable real-time analysis of:
- in-store planograms
- inventory levels and shelf compliance
- the competitive environment in the field
The data collected will feed our artificial intelligence models dedicated to demand forecasting and assortment optimization, strengthening the connection between field execution and strategic decision-making within sales and distribution teams.
Launch of CIS Group’s internal AI division
As part of this ongoing initiative, we are also announcing the creation of our internal artificial intelligence division. This new division is responsible for structuring, developing and deploying CIS Group’s AI initiatives, in close collaboration with our internal teams and technology partners.
The division will be supported by Éric Bédard, whose expertise will help guide the development of our AI capabilities and ensure alignment with real market needs.
A clear ambition for food distribution
With this new partnership and the launch of our internal AI division, we are pursuing a clear ambition: to become a key player in the deployment of artificial intelligence within the food distribution industry. We remain focused on delivering scalable solutions, deeply rooted in our clients’ operations, and designed to support their long-term performance.