homie on the “Handel im Ohr” Podcast: Online Shops Have Been Missing the Salesperson for 20 Years
5 August 2026
A store full of products—but no sales staff? Unthinkable in brick-and-mortar retail, yet completely normal online for more than 20 years.
In the latest episode of “Handel im Ohr,” homie CEO Marco Werner talks to Markus Howest and Monika Verspohl from BaumarktManager about how AI-powered advice can close this gap.
What’s missing from many online shops?
Advice that starts with what the customer actually wants to accomplish.
Traditional search fields work best when customers already know exactly what they need. But especially with products that require more explanation, they are often not looking for individual items—they are looking for a solution: Which materials work together? What else do I need? And which product is right for my specific use case?
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How can an AI assistant support retailers?
An AI assistant like homie understands questions in natural language, asks relevant follow-up questions, and guides customers through the product range. This transforms product search into digital consultation—online, at the point of sale, and around the clock.
The goal is not to replace human advisors. AI can provide support whenever no one is available and instantly answer recurring questions about products, orders, or deliveries.
How will AI transform retail next?
Marco is certain: Soon, humans may no longer be the only ones searching for products. Personal AI agents could compare offers, evaluate recommendations, and prepare purchases.
But how should retailers structure their product data and expertise to ensure they can still be found and recommended?
In the full podcast episode, Marco explains why this development could transform retail even more profoundly than e-commerce itself.
Listen to “Handel im Ohr” now: Go to the podcast episode →
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