Walmart's Chief Executive Officer John Furner stated during a conference call with analysts that the company's investments in technology are yielding positive results. Automation initiatives are helping to reduce labor costs, boost productivity, and improve delivery speeds.
Currently, approximately 60% of Walmart's stores receive goods from automated distribution centers. Furthermore, about half of the processing volume at the company's e-commerce fulfillment centers is now fully automated.
At the same time, Walmart is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to develop customer solutions, reduce friction, and streamline decision-making. Shoppers who use Walmart's AI shopping assistant, Sparky, have an average order value approximately 35% higher than that of non-users.
The company plans to continue enhancing Sparky while also collaborating with partners such as OpenAI and Alphabet to develop new tools and experiences.