In 2019, Walmart began piloting its first local distribution center in Salem, which uses robots called Alphabot to choose items from the shelves. Now, the retail giant is turning more locations into automated distribution centers, converting some of the stores into warehouses or adding a new section. Walmart stocks automated distribution centers with frequently purchased goods, including consumables (such as fresh and frozen items) and electronics. They are designed to streamline delivery and order picking, and Alphabot is a key element in making this possible.
The wheeled robot can quickly go anywhere within a warehouse to remove items from the shelves and then take them to an assembly workstation. Human associates will then be allowed to handpick products that should be left to non-robotic workers, such as meat, vegetables and fruits. In a post announcing the initiative on the company’s website, the customer’s senior vice president of products, Tom Ward, said the process could “take just a few minutes from the time the order is placed until the moment it is placed. ready for a customer or delivery driver to collect. ” Being able to fulfill orders faster means that Walmart can accommodate more customers, which can help the company in its attempt to reach Amazon.