Screenshot 2024-06-09 at 11.20.13

- 40:57

Interview

or listen on

Embracing Challenges and AI as Competitive Advantage with Aldo’s CIO

📍Montreal, Canada

In the latest episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi interviews Matthieu Houle, the CIO of Aldo, a globally recognized shoe brand. Matthieu shares his unconventional journey from starting a surf magazine in Costa Rica to leading digital transformation at Aldo. His career path is marked by a series of bold decisions, fueled by curiosity and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. These traits have equipped him to navigate the fast-paced world of retail technology, where adaptability and innovation are crucial.

Matthieu’s experience at Aldo highlights the importance of leveraging technology to gain a competitive edge. He discusses how Aldo was an early adopter of omnichannel strategies, enabling seamless shopping experiences such as curbside pickup and ship-from-store services. These initiatives, driven by a forward-thinking approach, allowed Aldo to stay ahead of the curve, especially during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Matthieu emphasizes that the key to success in retail technology is not just in the front-end consumer experience but also in having a flexible and agile backend system.

One of the standout projects Matthieu leads is the development of an AI-driven forecasting tool named Delphin. This tool uses machine learning to predict sales and optimize inventory management, providing significant business value. By accurately forecasting demand, Aldo can ensure that the right products are available in the right stores at the right time. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also improves operational efficiency. The project, supported by partnerships with academic institutions like McGill University, showcases the intersection of academia and industry in driving technological advancements.

Matthieu also touches on the cultural and organizational changes necessary to foster innovation within a company. He describes how Aldo’s IT department has evolved from a traditional support role to being an enabler of business growth. By adopting an agile, squad-based structure, the IT team works closely with various business units to deliver technology solutions that directly impact business outcomes. Matthieu’s leadership philosophy focuses on empowering his team, promoting a culture of curiosity, and ensuring that technology serves as a superpower for Aldo’s employees. His insights provide a valuable roadmap for other organizations looking to thrive in the dynamic retail landscape.

Listen more

Interview

Why Retail Media Is Entering Its Most Transformative Phase

For years, retailers operated with managed service models that limited transparency and slowed execution. Now, brands want direct control, real-time measurement, and unified planning across media formats.

For years, retailers operated with managed service models that limited transparency and slowed execution. Now, brands want direct control, real-time measurement, and unified planning across media formats.

Interview

For years, retailers operated with managed service models that limited transparency and slowed execution. Now, brands want direct control, real-time measurement, and unified planning across media formats.

Why Retail Media Is Entering Its Most Transformative Phase

For years, retailers operated with managed service models that limited transparency and slowed execution. Now, brands want direct control, real-time measurement, and unified planning across media formats.

Interview

Why Retailers Need a Blueprint Mindset to Survive the Next Decade

Retail moves fast. Customer expectations shift, digital journeys evolve and emerging technologies constantly reshape what good looks like.

Retail moves fast. Customer expectations shift, digital journeys evolve and emerging technologies constantly reshape what good looks like.

Interview

Retail moves fast. Customer expectations shift, digital journeys evolve and emerging technologies constantly reshape what good looks like.

Why Retailers Need a Blueprint Mindset to Survive the Next Decade

Retail moves fast. Customer expectations shift, digital journeys evolve and emerging technologies constantly reshape what good looks like.

Trends

Retail 2025 and NRF 2026: Insights from Jill Dvorak

Jill Dvorak spends her time at the intersection of retailers, policymakers, and global markets, which gives her a unique and honest perspective on what is really happening inside the industry.

Jill Dvorak spends her time at the intersection of retailers, policymakers, and global markets, which gives her a unique and honest perspective on what is really happening inside the industry.

Trends

Jill Dvorak spends her time at the intersection of retailers, policymakers, and global markets, which gives her a unique and honest perspective on what is really happening inside the industry.

Retail 2025 and NRF 2026: Insights from Jill Dvorak

Jill Dvorak spends her time at the intersection of retailers, policymakers, and global markets, which gives her a unique and honest perspective on what is really happening inside the industry.

Interview

The Norrøna Way: A Century of Design, Nature and Loyal Communities

Norrøna’s commitment to nature goes beyond gear. The brand has increasingly invested in community building through adventure travel, hospitality and events.

Norrøna’s commitment to nature goes beyond gear. The brand has increasingly invested in community building through adventure travel, hospitality and events.

Interview

Norrøna’s commitment to nature goes beyond gear. The brand has increasingly invested in community building through adventure travel, hospitality and events.

The Norrøna Way: A Century of Design, Nature and Loyal Communities

Norrøna’s commitment to nature goes beyond gear. The brand has increasingly invested in community building through adventure travel, hospitality and events.

Trends

From Wearables to AI: Matt Maher Decodes the Next Wave of Shopping

Known for his forward-thinking approach to emerging tech, Matt Maher is constantly exploring how innovation, retail, and consumer behavior intersect.

Known for his forward-thinking approach to emerging tech, Matt Maher is constantly exploring how innovation, retail, and consumer behavior intersect.

Trends

Known for his forward-thinking approach to emerging tech, Matt Maher is constantly exploring how innovation, retail, and consumer behavior intersect.

From Wearables to AI: Matt Maher Decodes the Next Wave of Shopping

Known for his forward-thinking approach to emerging tech, Matt Maher is constantly exploring how innovation, retail, and consumer behavior intersect.

Receive new exclusive episodes


Sign up for our newsletter now!

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.