CEO John Furner stated during a recent earnings call that Walmart’s multi-year investment in artificial intelligence and supply chain automation is approaching its peak. The initiative targets reduced inventory and labor costs to set new retail standards.
Automated systems currently process 50% of Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce fulfillment center volume. Automated systems deliver freight to 60% of stores. Inventory growth tracks at roughly half the rate of sales growth.
Walmart plans to automate several thousand facilities by 2026 to compete with rivals like Amazon.