Walmart is adding parcel stations in some stores to speed up deliveries. / Photo: Shutterstock
Retail giant Walmart has announced that it will add delivery stations to more than 40 stores by the end of the year to speed up next-day delivery operations.
The parcel stations will complement Walmart’s store strategy as delivery hubs.
“In many ways, parcel stations can be thought of as mini-post offices for receiving and delivering packages,” said Jennifer McKeehan, Walmart’s senior vice president of transportation and delivery, on the company’s blog. I mentioned it in the post. “Parcel Station helps us get goods to our customers’ homes even faster by transporting more online orders using our dedicated fleet of vehicles. Parcels depart from our fulfillment centers and , directly to a sorting center or store, where it is delivered to the customer’s home using our last-mile delivery network.”
Walmart said it plans to expand parcel stations to more stores next year. But the first batch of parcel stations will help Walmart get through the busy holiday season, McKeehan said.
The retailer said the stations will make the delivery process more efficient.
“Overall, the entire process increases density and reduces shipping costs, which can then be reinvested into the customer experience,” McKeehan said.
Parcel Station will be used not only for Walmart orders, but also for orders placed through Walmart Go Local, the retailer’s white-label local delivery service for small businesses.
Last week, enterprise retail technology solutions company Bamboo Rose announced a partnership with Walmart and Sam’s Club to streamline the retail giant’s supply chain through a cutting-edge enterprise sourcing platform.
The new technology will allow Walmart employees to more easily collaborate with suppliers, buyers and product development teams, increasing visibility into volumes and costs, Bamboo-Rose said.
This upgrade is expected to significantly reduce waste in categories such as fresh produce.
“At Walmart, we’re always looking for ways to improve our business so our customers can save money and live better lives,” Daniel Berg, Walmart’s vice president of global product sourcing, said in a statement. “We are excited to work with Bamboo Rose to develop an entirely new ecosystem that connects our global teams on one platform, allowing us to go beyond simply streamlining information. We will be able to collaborate with suppliers across the globe, expand our global offerings and make more efficient decisions.”