Walmart‘s automation cost has a new $6 billion price tag attached, with the retail giant expanding its relationship with Symbotic to bring more robotics technology into 25 of its U.S. regional distribution centers.

The announcement came the same week a Texas state filing identified Walmart as the party behind a $400 million distribution center set to be built near San Antonio.

Under the expanded agreement, Walmart is targeting more support for e-commerce upstream inventory management, more storage capacity and smoother product movement. The company says the automation partnership will broaden assortment, accelerate service and facilitate more reliable replenishment.

“Our investments in the physical and digital supply chain help us serve them however they choose to shop, whether in stores, at the curbside or at home,” said Rob Montgomery, executive vice president for Walmart U.S. supply chain operations in a statement. “Our work with Symbotic over the years, including this expanded agreement, helps us improve service, grow capacity, simplify work for our associates and lower costs.”

More than 50 percent of Walmart’s e-commerce fulfillment volume is processed through automated facilities as the Bentonville behemoth keeps pouring money into its supply chain. Walmart has made it a priority in recent years to build out more efficient fulfillment networks and lower delivery times for shoppers as it expands its e-commerce operation, with the retailer now getting products to consumers in as little as under 30 minutes in some cases.

Source link