How AI and Automation Fuel Walmart’s Ultrafast Deliveries | WSJ Shipping Wars

Walmart projects that by 2025, 65% of its stores will be serviced by automation. To compete against Amazon and Target, Walmart is investing in these automated fulfillment centers with its robotic Alphabot system and drone delivery.

WSJ explains how the country’s biggest retailer is leaning into a high-tech distribution strategy to keep pace in the fast e-commerce shipping race.

Chapters:
0:00 Walmart’s Alphabot
0:44 Process and strategy
5:41 Why fast delivery is important
6:40 Challenges and criticism

#Walmart #Ecommerce #WSJ

[ASD-DAD]

My grandma is 85, and can't drive any longer. Online grocery shopping and delivery is a Godsend for her. On every order, there's always an issue, whether is a missing item or poor quality produce, even expired goods at times. Still, she can't live without and she'll gladly pay for Wal-Mart+ fees as long as she's alive.

[NortheastAndRetired]

Walmart has been delivering all my groceries to my home for the last two years and I'm very happy with their service.

[maplelodge]

Will there be a video on how traditional courier like UPS, DHL, FedEx will compete with these companies? With how Amazon operates, one day, they will open its logistic division to other users to generate revenue and directly compete with the traditional couriers.

[OptionsAnalysisPro]

Walmart Rep: We're hearing feedback from our employees that they may be afraid of our new automation shift

Walmart Workers: I'm afraid of Walmart automating out my role as a retail employee

Walmart Rep: That's exactly right, your role is gone unless you already happen to know industrial equipment maintenance and upkeep.

[lidarman]

OMG, with the lights telling the picker where to grab and place things, they have made a toddlers game of it.

[jbi]

This video is more like a advertisement than a documentary.

[commie]

Walmart employees are the biggest receivers of food bank.

[ramoraid]

Walmart approach to automation is the future of grocery shopping and the best solution for high crime areas, giant warehouse size vending machines.

[evanh]

I have been using walmart more than amazon lately, sometimes I can get the order the same day

[Sulfen]

I don't shop at walmart anymore because I bump into 20 employees pushing those large bin carts during my visit and they block parts of the isle making it difficult to get items. I switched over to Kroger stores and Winco and Costco.

[lil----lil]

The *ONLY* reason USPS is still surviving it's because it's the default Government Delivery service. I'm serious. Amazon & Walmart's efficiency is probably 10x that of USPS.

[christiansipes]

The biggest hurtle that keeps my family from using walmarts delivery services is how they handle missing items. We will order $300 worth of groceries. There will be $100 worth of items that were unavailable with no substitute. That is no problem with us. We can get those items at another time or from another supplier. Our issue is that walmart still charges us for those missing items. They take weeks to return that $100. Maybe im in a different financial bracket than others but i cannot afford to have a third of my grocery budget tied up in walmarts pocket. Imagine purchasing a tv from amazon. Getting an email saying its out of stock. Then waiting weeks for a refund. This would be unacceptable for any other retailer. If they waited to charge my account until the items were actually accounted for. If they charged me 50% of the order at first and then the remainder after all items were accounted for. If they charged me the full amount at first and then updated the charge immediately to reflect what i would be actually recieveing. If they charged me the full amount at first and then processed an immediate return for the items that were missing takeing maybe a few days. All of these options would be so much better than having your money held hostage for weeks because walmarts inventory was inaccurate. If walmart fixes this then i will be a walmart plus member for life. I love the idea of never grocery again. Having all of my groceries magically appear on my doorstep each week. I really want this to work Walmart but you have to handle charging for missing items better. Do better walmart.

[friendwilder]

I did shopping last year with them, there was 1 medium failed delivery out of several, this year I did several, only one was a success, it's getting worse this year

[BloodyCanadian]

Translation, how Walmart is eliminating warehouse jobs.

[Rchrd]

just think if Kmart did this way back in the 1990's? Sears had a catalog but never did as good as these do at delivering as quickly. i miss Kmart and Sears.

[Daniel-esdq]

Great process. I really like that we don’t have to go to stores anymore.

[yijiequ]

I have shopped online with walmart for a decade or more. Actually I prefer walmart than amazon, as you know the easy return... no surprise.. some amazon return needs to print your own label or cost money... while Walmart, you can walk to next door customer service desk and return right there. i have only one complaint about walmart store pickup, prior to covid, you can do store pickup for far more items, including many from different stores to be shipped into your store or even 3rd party items. now they stopped that. probably due to the cost of shipping .,

[peronotec.]

God bless walmart canada 🇨🇦 USA 🇺🇸 & the world 🌎

[cloverlief]

Walmart really needs to ramp up online inventory accuracy.
9 times out of 10 they are out of what they say they have, but have or try to sub for an item they said was out if stock.

Its gotten to the point i must turn off al substitution and roll this dice/gamble on if they have it in stock.

Target and Amazon while more expensive 9 times out of 10 really does have the item in stock, and if a sub occurs they are really close to what was requested (maybe a difference dize).

Walmarts must fix this or people will move elsewhere if thrre is an option

[jimwhite]

Not just for faster delivery, we can also thank Unions for the quick adoption for automation. No strikes. No disruptions. No increased labour costs past on to cusotmers....I love it.