Automatic routing of user inquiries using machine-learning models

Abstract

A system or a method for intelligently routing user inquiries to knowledgeable retail shoppers using machine learning. Upon receiving an inquiry from a client device that includes both text and image content, the system applies machine learning models to identify item categories referenced in the text and shown in the image. The system uses an item availability model—trained on historical retailer inventory data—to identify a retailer likely to carry items in the identified categories and transmits suggestion information to the user's device, prompting a user interface that recommends the retailer. The system selects a shopper associated with the retailer who has subject matter expertise in the relevant item categories. Expertise is determined using a machine-learned model trained on labeled data from historical shopper orders. The system then forwards the user inquiry to the expert shopper's device, enabling direct communication and facilitating more accurate, personalized retail assistance.