Carrefour is one of the largest retail brands in the world, operating thousands of stores across multiple countries. Every year, Carrefour receives tens of thousands of job applications, all of which need to be processed efficiently to keep stores fully staffed and running smoothly.

"We’re always looking for new talent to support our operations, but with the number of applications we receive, we need a robust, technology-backed recruiting process," says Tristan De Wree, Manager Recruitment & Internal Mobility at Carrefour.

To keep up with recruitment demands and ensure a smooth hiring experience for both candidates and hiring managers, Carrefour turned to Carv’s conversational AI.

The challenge

"One of our biggest challenges was that store managers are not recruiters," says De Wree. "They see hiring as an administrative task rather than a priority, and struggle to find time for it, so recruitment is often put on the back burner."

This delay caused vacancies to remain open longer, impacting store operations and overall efficiency. Moreover, it threatend Carrefour’s brand reputation, as candidates may perceive lengthy wait times as unprofessional. 

Thus, the challenge isn’t just the volume of applications—it’s also about speed. 

Store managers, already stretched thin with daily operations and juggling countless responsibilities, often struggled to follow up with candidates quickly enough. As a result, suitable candidates chose faster-moving competitors.

"In our stores, we pride ourselves on great customer service. I believe candidates should expect the same experience when they apply for a job with us," Tristan explains. "If we take too long to respond, they move on."

The team needed a solution that could engage candidates instantly, provide a structured and consistent hiring process, and remove the administrative burden from store managers.

The solution

Carrefour chose Carv’s “hands-off” conversational AI to take the pressure off store managers and create a faster, more efficient hiring process.

"With Carv, store managers no longer have to worry about manually screening candidates or scheduling interviews—it all happens automatically," says De Wree. "This allows them to focus on running their stores while knowing recruitment is taken care of."

Carv’s AI-powered chat interface allows candidates to apply via chat, engaging with them instantly. The AI operates 24/7, providing a seamless experience for both candidates and hiring managers. It integrates directly with Carrefour’s existing SAP system, eliminating the need for additional platforms or complex training.

When a candidate applies—whether through Carrefour’s career site or a job ad—the AI takes over, engaging them via chat, pre-screening their qualifications, and matching them to the right store based on location. If they meet the criteria, Carv automatically schedules an interview with the store manager and sends reminders to reduce no-shows. 

Because the AI supports multiple languages, candidates can navigate the hiring process in their preferred language, without delays.

"Candidates love the speed and convenience, and store managers appreciate that they only meet with qualified applicants," De Wree adds. "It’s a win-win for everyone."

Key features of the implementation include:

• Instant candidate pre-screening to ensure only qualified applicants move forward
• Automated interview scheduling to eliminate manual coordination efforts
• Integration with SAP to maintain a seamless workflow without additional system complexity
• Multilingual capabilities so candidates can interact in their preferred language
• Automated candidate reminders to reduce no-shows and improve engagement

Carv’s solution is also scalable—critical for Carrefour, where hiring demand fluctuates across seasons, regions, and store formats. By automating the most time-consuming parts of recruitment, Carrefour ensures that stores remain staffed without overburdening store managers.

The results

Since implementing Carv’s AI-driven recruitment process, Carrefour has significantly improved hiring efficiency and candidate engagement.

Key outcomes include:

• 50% reduction in time to hire across all regions
• Higher candidate satisfaction, with scores increasing from 67% to 82%
• Increased hiring manager productivity, as administrative tasks were minimized
• More structured and consistent hiring processes across all store locations.

By leveraging Carv’s conversational AI, Carrefour has not only streamlined recruitment but also enhanced the overall candidate experience. 

Faster response times, a more engaging application process, and greater transparency have made Carrefour more competitive in attracting top talent—directly benefiting store operations and business performance.

"Carv has significantly simplified recruitment for our store managers and hiring teams," says De Wree. "The AI does the heavy lifting, so managers spend less time on admin and more time meeting the right people. It’s a game-changer for both efficiency and hiring quality."

Looking ahead

Carrefour is continuously exploring new ways to integrate AI into its recruitment strategy. With plans to expand Carv’s technology across different levels of the organization, the retailer remains committed to innovation and efficiency in hiring.

“We’re on a mission to become a fully digital retailer, and that means automating wherever we can to ensure every process runs smoothly. AI allows our store managers to step away from repetitive admin tasks and focus on what really matters—leading their teams and delivering great customer experiences”, says De Wree.

For companies facing high-volume hiring challenges, Carrefour’s success demonstrates that AI-powered recruitment isn’t just the future—it’s already transforming hiring today.