Barbados has entered a new era of digital consumer convenience this week with the official launch of Ask Dealia, an AI-integrated mobile and web application designed to reconfigure how both locals and visitors shop, track local events, and access price information across the island. Unveiled on Wednesday, the platform marks the second government-backed digital tool launched by the country in two months, following the June debut of Pearlie — a service that streamlines public service requests and citizen reporting of government agency issues.
At the core of Ask Dealia is its namesake AI assistant, built to deliver personalized consumer support that goes far beyond basic price lookup. Unlike generic comparison tools, the platform consolidates real-time price tracking, promotional alerts, event updates, and tailored product recommendations into a single, accessible digital space, addressing a longstanding pain point for Barbadian shoppers who previously had to travel across the island to compare prices across retailers ranging from grocery chains and hardware stores to fashion boutiques on Broad Street.
Minister of Business Development and Commerce Kerrie Symmonds emphasized the transformative impact of the new tool during the launch. He noted that for decades, Barbadian consumers faced the unnecessary hassle of visiting multiple physical locations to research prices and find the best deals across the island’s diverse retail landscape. With Ask Dealia, that entire process shifts to a centralized virtual marketplace, putting all pricing, promotional, and event information directly into users’ pockets.
Developed by local digital firm Infolytics, the platform already tracks a massive dataset of more than 400,000 products from 2,000 registered businesses across Barbados, a number that Infolytics CEO Quinn Weekes says continues to grow as more retailers join the platform. Weekes stressed that the app’s AI assistant Dealia is far more than a standard chatbot: she adapts to individual user preferences over time, learning from interactions to identify the deals, products, and local events that align with each user’s specific interests.
The app also includes user-centric features that set it apart from traditional shopping apps. Shoppers can set custom price thresholds for desired items, receiving automatic notifications when prices drop below their target limit. It also supports event tracking for major local and seasonal occasions, from Father’s Day and Mother’s Day promotions to Barbados’ iconic Crop Over festival, back-to-school sales, and year-end holiday deals. For both residents and tourists, the platform also serves as a curated guide to local events, highlighting happenings that match each user’s preferences.
Weekes added that the platform will remain iterative, with development teams incorporating user feedback to refine features and improve the overall experience over time. Currently, Ask Dealia is available for access via its official website askdealia.gov.bb and for download on the Apple App Store, with a Google Play Store release scheduled for later this week.