Big data firm Palantir says it helps Coles be 'a happier place to work' - Capital Brief

Palantir Technologies, the controversial big data company co-founded by Peter Thiel, has expanded beyond defense and intelligence work to help Australian supermarket chain Coles improve employee satisfaction and workplace culture.

According to Ashwin Rajan, Palantir's head of global accounts, the partnership signed in early 2024 focuses on workforce analytics to help Coles become a better employer. The company uses its data mining and predictive analytics capabilities to surface insights that Coles believes will translate into improved customer outcomes. This marks an unusual civilian application for Palantir, which has typically been associated with more controversial uses including immigration enforcement and military operations.

• Palantir signed a deal with Coles supermarkets in early 2024 to analyze workforce data and improve employee happiness
• The big data company, valued at $638 billion, is expanding from defense applications into commercial retail analytics
• Coles believes better employee satisfaction will directly improve customer service outcomes
• This represents a shift toward civilian applications for technology previously used in controversial government operations