BUSINESS
Walmart moves towards AI to remove receipt review upon departing a store
Walmart has announced that it will use artificial intelligence tools to automatically replenish its customers’ products.
Walmart is currently the largest retailer in the world, according to Kantar’s annual list of the top 50 retailers for 2023. The company has retained its first-place position, with total revenues of $585.2 billion. The report attributes much of Walmart’s success to its growth in select markets and the success of its new online marketplace and fulfillment model.
To improve customer experience further, Walmart has announced new measures, including using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Doug McMillon, the president and CEO of Walmart Inc., stated that the company’s objective is to help people live better through technological advancements. It remains to be seen how much customer satisfaction improves with a quicker checkout process, but AI integration into business procedures is becoming more prevalent.
Walmart and the use of AI for automatic purchases
One of its new AI-powered features will study Walmart+ members' shopping habits and purchasing patterns to automatically restock their refrigerators with essential items before they run out.
The service, called “InHome Replenishment,” will create a personalized algorithm that will replenish customers' essentials exactly when they need them. Such orders will be automatically placed and delivered to customers' homes. Customers will also be able to make adjustments to their orders.
No more checkout receipts
Sam’s Club, the membership warehouse club of Walmart, has already implemented artificial intelligence technology that enables customers to pay for physical products through an app, eliminating the need to stop and pay before leaving the store. In addition, Walmart has introduced new checkout technology that allows customers to walk through a digital arch with their products, eliminating the need to show their digital receipts at the door. This feature is currently available in Dallas and will be rolled out nationwide by the end of the year. Walmart has also expanded its drone delivery service to include an additional 1.8 million homes in the Dallas Fort-Worth metro area, helping customers to receive their items in as little as 30 minutes.