In 2019, Walmart began launching its first local fulfillment center in Salem, using robots called Alphabot to pick items off the shelves. Now the retail giant is turning more places into auto-fulfillment centers by converting a portion of the stores into warehouses or adding a new section. Walmart has automated filling centers with frequently purchased goods, including consumables (such as fresh and frozen items) and electronics. It is meant to make delivery and delivery of orders much faster, and the Alphabot is an important element in making this possible.
The wheel robot can quickly go anywhere in a warehouse to pick up items from the shelves and then take them to a workstation for assembly. Human collaborators will then be released to select products that are best left to non-robot workers, such as meat, vegetables and fruits. In a report announcing the initiative on the company’s website, SVP’s Tom Ward said the process “could only take a few minutes from the order until it is ready for a customer or delivery manager.” If we can execute orders faster, Walmart can accommodate more customers, which can help the company pick up Amazon.