AI Supporting Quebec Bookstores
In collaboration with SaaSpasse
Our Client
Librairie Martin , founded in Joliette, is a well-known name in book retail across Quebec. Faced with the challenges of managing a massive inventory (over 30,000 titles per branch) and difficulties recruiting specialized staff in remote areas, the company was seeking an innovative solution to improve customer service.
Slim , their management software created by booksellers for booksellers, centralizes inventory, ordering, and customer loyalty management. However, one key element was missing to address the current market realities.
The Challenge
Overwhelming volume: 36,000 new books published each year in the Francophonie
Rapid turnover: Between 5,000 and 7,000 new books to integrate each week
Scarce expertise: Difficulty finding experienced booksellers, especially in rural areas
High expectations: Customers expecting personalized and precise advice
How can we empower staff, even those with limited expertise, to provide relevant and high-quality recommendations from such a vast inventory?
Our Approach
At Baseline, we turn AI promises into tangible results. For Librairie Martin, our process unfolded over several key phases:
Exploration and Ideation Phase
Brainstorming sessions to identify AI integration opportunities
Validation of the technical and economic feasibility of proposed solutions
Definition of measurable objectives and a clear roadmap
Design Phase
Development of a "virtual bookseller" based on a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture
Integration with the existing inventory system (Slim)
Design of an intuitive interface for employees
Testing and Validation Phase
Deployment in a first branch for real-world testing
Adjustments based on field feedback
Optimization of performance and recommendation accuracy
Implementation Phase
Staff training on how to use the new tool
Integration with RFID technology for a seamless experience
Setup of maintenance and continuous improvement mechanisms
The Solution: An Intelligent Virtual Bookseller
The system we developed allows Librairie Martin employees to:
Instantly access relevant recommendations based on customer queries
Quickly identify books in stock that match the expressed needs
Avoid frustration by only suggesting titles physically available in-store
Offer expert-level service without needing to know the entire catalogue
The major innovation: the system only suggests books that are physically in stock, eliminating customer disappointment and maximizing immediate sales.
Tangible Results
"Thanks to the integration of AI, I’ve been able to sell books I probably wouldn’t have sold otherwise, and I can prove it beyond a doubt." - Luc Ayotte, Librairie Martin
Some concrete examples demonstrate the impact of our solution:
Increased sales: Books that would have stayed on the shelves are now being sold
Continued service: On Father’s Day, without the usual expert staff member, the system enabled the sale of three specialized books
Improved customer experience: Clients receive relevant recommendations even when staff are unfamiliar with certain titles
Resource optimization: Less reliance on experts for daily recommendations
Lessons Learned
This collaboration strengthened several of our convictions:
AI is not an end but a means – It must solve a real, measurable problem
Humans remain central – Technology enhances staff capabilities without replacing them
Preparation is key – Taking the time to understand needs before development is essential
Flexibility pays off – Prioritizing features that bring immediate value is crucial
Client Testimonial
"When David from Baseline approached me, his first question was: ‘Do you know much about artificial intelligence?’ It was a topic we kept hearing about, but I’d never really explored its potential. [...] At the beginning, we brainstormed several ideas, and each time, David came back with a clear answer: ‘We can do it.’ That confidence and ability to always find a solution convinced me he was the right person to work with."
Next Steps
The collaboration between Baseline and Librairie Martin continues with:
Expansion of deployment to other branches
API development to connect more bookstores to the system
Continuous optimization of the recommendation algorithms
Support in scaling up commercial deployment
Our Partnership with SaaSpasse
This case study was originally featured on the website of our partner SaaSpasse ,
Quebec’s go-to resource for SaaS and the local tech ecosystem.
SaaSpasse and Baseline share the same vision: highlighting tech innovations that generate real results for local businesses. Our collaboration allows us to document and share best practices for AI integration in Quebec SMEs.
We thank the SaaSpasse team for their support and for helping promote Quebec’s tech success stories.
About Baseline
Founded in Quebec City in 2020, Baseline is a cooperative specializing in artificial intelligence that transforms AI promises into concrete results for SMEs. Our team supports companies at every stage of their digital transformation.
Our philosophy: We don’t start with the technology to find a problem — we start with your problem and find the right technology to solve it.
Facing a similar challenge?
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Read the original article of SaaSpasse
