RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers operating and servicing over 425 corporate and affiliated stores, says it is positioning itself as a technology leader in its industry.
“After investing in streamlining its supply chain, developing its private brands, establishing a strong position among construction professionals and RONA affiliated dealers, and increasing the RONA brand awareness through marketing and store conversions, the company is collaborating with strategic partners such as Google Cloud and DoorDash to propel its shift to artificial intelligence and enhance its omnichannel experience,” said the brand in a news release on Tuesday.
RONA said it chose Google Cloud to maximize the impact of artificial intelligence across all its operations and accelerate its growth through the cloud.
“We are very proud to reach this milestone with Google Cloud. We are automating our processes, modernizing our retail operations and enhancing the customer experience by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Google Distributed Cloud Edge and AI. This collaboration allows us to position ourselves at the digital and technological forefront of our industry,” said J.P. Towner, President and Chief Executive Officer at RONA inc.
This relationship with Google Cloud will enable RONA to succeed in an ever-changing retail sector.
“We are rethinking the ways our stores operate, how our teams interact with customers, and how technology can support every stage of the in-store experience. Google Cloud’s expertise will be of great benefit to us, to our customers and to our employees,” said Martin Thibodeau, Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Officer at RONA inc.
RONA said it is the first company in its industry to offer a rapid delivery solution with DoorDash to reflect consumers’ new shopping habits.
“We are eliminating the barrier between store and customer by innovating and making home improvement more accessible, more connected and quicker,” added Towner. Thousands of products are now available for purchase on the platform to meet the needs of today’s consumers.
In recognition of its search engine marketing efforts, the home improvement and construction retailer won the Rising Star Award in the Performance Marketing Excellence category at the 2025 Google Search Honours Awards ceremony, which was held in Toronto on November 13. The Rising Star Award is a new series of awards introduced by Google this year to recognize companies that have made remarkable strides in the Measurement and Analytics Leadership and Performance Marketing Excellence categories, the company explained.
“To offer a more customized experience at each step of the customer’s journey, we completely overhauled our approach to search engine advertising. This transformation allows us to help our customers quickly find the products they’re looking for while also discovering solutions that are adapted to their projects,” said Catherine Laporte, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at RONA inc.
“By leveraging real-time data and historical performance, we can now optimize our advertising investments according to demand and market trends. Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in the dynamic adjustment of our strategies, enabling us to react even more rapidly to changes in consumer behaviour and easily identify unforeseen fluctuations in demand.”
RONA inc. is one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers, headquartered in Boucherville, Quebec. The RONA network operates or services more than 425 corporate and affiliated stores under the RONA+, RONA and Dick’s Lumber banners.
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