RetailRewired
Ever wonder how your order shows up early, your favorite items stay in stock or a store associate finds exactly what you’re looking for?
That’s AI, automation and smart tools working quietly behind the scenes. Hour by hour. Aisle by aisle.
How does that work?
An Automated Defect Detection System inspects packaging and product quality with speed and precision, flagging issues like loose tape, crushed or bulging boxes, poor perforations and barcode problems. After inspection, each case is automatically sorted and stacked by our AI Pallet Builder, which uses store order data to optimize how products are grouped, packed and shipped.
Chance, an automation equipment operator, helps ensure everything stays fast, accurate and on track. “It used to be 85% physical,” he says. “Now it’s 85% mental. I’m solving problems with my mind, not just my body — and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
The Dispatcher System planned her route based on her hours, location and availability. At the same time, Load Planner made sure her trailer was packed for efficiency, maximizing space while also ensuring temperature-sensitive items stay fresh. It accounted for weather and traffic, adjusting in real time to keep her on schedule.
“The truck’s loaded right. The route’s smart,” Janis says. “And I’m getting where I need to go safely on time, every time.”
And on the return trip? Load Planner lines up smart pickups along the way, so the truck never drives back empty.
There’s no visible sign. But the store’s Digital Twin saw it coming. A digital twin is more than a virtual map of the store. It uses AI to monitor real-time conditions and flag potential issues before they happen.
In this case, it predicted a refrigeration failure up to two weeks in advance, auto-generated a work order and routed it to Troy, complete with a visual model showing the case’s contents, wiring, install date and needed parts.
By catching issues early, Troy keeps the store running smoothly — and avoids late-night emergency calls, giving him more off-the-clock time with his family.
At the new Cypress Supercenter, he uses Find with RFID to locate products in seconds, whether they’re on the sales floor or tucked in the backroom. When a customer needs green shorts in size medium, but only XLs are on the rack, Juan keys in the item’s digital code. The system confirms it’s in stock, then guides him through the store to the shorts’ exact location.
Across the store, People Lead Natalie relies on another powerful tool: Walmart’s Real-Time Translator. With more than 300 associates and a wide range of languages spoken, the translator helps her connect, clarify and support in real time. As she puts it, “With the translator, I can answer questions, explain tasks, solve problems and help associates feel truly seen and supported.”
A customer realizes they got the wrong shoe size, but they’re driving and can’t open the app. They ask their phone to call Walmart, expecting a long wait. Instead, they’re quickly connected to Kalin, a support associate who listens and is ready to help.
Before Kalin even picks up, Walmart’s GenAI Customer Support Assistant has verified the customer’s account, pulled recent orders, flagged the potential issue and CES Customer Flow has launched the right workflow to resolve it. No digging through hundreds of forms. No lengthy verification questions. No putting the customer on hold to manually re-enter information.
The workflow guides Kalin step by step, automatically filling in key fields so he can stay focused and keep the conversation moving. “It’s not just faster. It’s kinder,” Kalin says. “The system handles the background stuff, so I can be fully present for the person on the line.”
Oatmeal, yogurt, syrup, milk, toilet paper and four kinds of cereal get added to his cart. As he goes to select his normal delivery window, he notices something surprising: Express Delivery has already predicted his ETA, nearly down to the minute.
Walmart’s Dynamic Delivery algorithm kicked in before he even tapped the option — analyzing neighborhood traffic patterns, in-store item locations, current weather conditions, order complexity and years of delivery data to calculate the fastest possible route — in seconds. He taps Express.
Before the app closes, a driver is already on the move, hand-picking each item with care and speed. Seventeen minutes later, the full order lands on his porch.
You don’t have to see the technology
to feel the impact.
From the moment a product hits our supply chain to the second it reaches your cart or home, AI and automation are working quietly in the background. And these are just a few of the thousands of tools powering faster service, smarter decisions and better experiences across every aisle, every app, every day.
Glossary of Tech
From digital twins to dynamic delivery, here’s a quick glossary of the featured tools and innovations helping Walmart move faster, work faster and serve better — every hour of the day.
Automated Defect Detection
A high-speed, AI-powered inspection system used in Walmart’s distribution centers. While manual inspection covers a sample of inbound cases, our AI-powered scan tunnels, imaging cameras and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) now check 100% of conveyable cases. They flag issues like loose tape, crushed or bulging boxes, poor perforations and barcode problems such as smudges or blurred lines. By catching problems early, it helps ensure only the best products reach stores, reduces waste and frees associates to focus on higher-value tasks.
AI Pallet Builder
An intelligent system that uses store order data and machine learning to determine the most efficient way to group, stack and pack products on pallets. The AI Pallet Builder considers product size, weight, destination and handling requirements, optimizing every load for stability and speed. This means fewer damaged goods, faster unloading at stores and a safer, more ergonomic process for associates.
Load Planner
A logistics optimization tool that leverages AI to plan the loading of trailers for Walmart’s private fleet. Load Planner analyzes order volume, product types, temperature requirements and delivery schedules to maximize space and efficiency. It also adapts to real-time factors like weather and traffic, ensuring that every load is packed for freshness, safety and on-time delivery — while minimizing empty miles and fuel use.
Dispatcher System
An automated route assignment platform that matches drivers with the best possible routes based on their hours, location and availability. The Dispatcher System eliminates manual guesswork and back-and-forth, ensuring that every delivery is assigned quickly and efficiently. It also helps balance workloads, reduce delays and keep the fleet moving smoothly across the country.
Digital Twin
A dynamic simulation of any Walmart location — built to spot problems, test ideas and power faster decisions. Walmart’s digital twin technology creates a virtual version of any store — whether it’s a Supercenter, Neighborhood Market or Sam’s Club. The model includes everything from shelving and layout to equipment and traffic flow. But it’s not static. It updates in real time, using AI to monitor and simulate how conditions might change and flag potential issues before they happen — like early signs of refrigeration failure or HVAC strain. The result? Faster fixes, smarter planning and less disruption for associates and customers alike.
Wally
A data analytics and visualization platform designed for Walmart’s merchandising teams. Wally aggregates sales, inventory and demand signals from across the business, using AI to highlight trends, risks and opportunities. With Wally, leaders can quickly spot where products are running low, understand why and coordinate with suppliers to keep shelves stocked — improving both in-store and online availability.
MyAssistant
Walmart’s internal generative AI-powered support tool for associates and leaders. MyAssistant can answer questions, analyze data and surface insights about stores, teams and performance. It helps leaders prepare for meetings, identify talent trends and make data-driven decisions — cutting prep time and enabling more meaningful conversations with associates.
Real-Time Translator
A mobile translation tool that enables instant, two-way communication between associates and managers who speak different languages. Walmart’s real-time translator supports dozens of languages, helping teams collaborate, solve problems and connect with each other — no matter their background. It’s especially valuable in diverse stores, ensuring every associate feels heard and supported.
RFID + AR (Radio Frequency Identification + Augmented Reality)
A powerful combination of RFID tags and AR technology that transforms how associates find and manage products. RFID tags track the location of every item in the store or backroom, while AR overlays digital information onto the real world through handheld devices. Associates can scan a product code and instantly see where it’s located — on the sales floor, in the backroom, or even in transit — making product searches up to 75% faster.
CES Customer Flow with GenAI-Enabled Customer Support Assistant
A next-generation customer service platform that uses generative AI to streamline support calls and online inquiries. CES Customer Flow automatically pulls up customer information, verifies accounts and suggests solutions — so agents can focus on helping, not searching for data. The result: faster resolutions, less hold time and a more personal, frictionless experience for every customer.
Dynamic Delivery Algorithm
An AI-driven system that calculates the fastest, most efficient delivery routes for online orders. The Dynamic Delivery Algorithm analyzes real-time traffic, weather, product locations and order complexity to provide customers with accurate ETAs and ensure on-time delivery. It adapts on the fly, so even last-minute changes or challenges don’t slow things down.
Dynamic Express + Fulfillment AI
A suite of AI-powered tools that coordinate every step of the online order process — from picking and packing to delivery. Dynamic Express and Fulfillment AI work together to optimize order batching, assign the best pickers and drivers and ensure every item arrives quickly and accurately. This technology turns hours into minutes, making fast reliable delivery possible at scale.
