Walmart teams up with Symbotic to implement supply chain automation system

Symbotic first implemented its system in Walmart’s Brooksville, Florida distribution centre in 2017. Since that time, the companies have worked together to optimise the system. This week, Symbotic will begin the process of outfitting 25 additional regional DCs with the high-tech system.

Walmart’s supply chain is central to ensuring customers can shop when, where and how they want. By implementing Symbotic’s system, Walmart will better modernise and digitise its existing supply chain facilities to support evolving customer demand and create a frictionless experience. All the while, the retailer will create training opportunities for associates that open the door for jobs of the future, increase productivity and reduce costs. Symbotic’s scalable, integrated system deploys a fleet of fully autonomous robots in combination with proprietary software to deliver industry-best throughput and efficiency, while increasing warehouse capacity. With the new system in place, it will help reduce the time it takes to unload, sort, and stock freight in Walmart stores.

“The digital transformation happening today, alongside evolving customer habits, is reshaping the retail industry,” said Joe Metzger, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, Walmart US. “To serve customers now, and in the future, our business must provide the right tools and training to our associates so they can deliver the items our customers want, when they want them, with unmatched convenience. We’re investing in our supply chain at an unprecedented scale in order to optimise that process end-to-end.”