Walmart Combines Mobile Apps for Unified Grocery Shopping

Walmart continues to bolster its grocery business, with its latest move including consolidating its two mobile apps into one.

The company is doing away with its stand-alone Grocery app and will now enable consumers to purchase fresh groceries for pickup or delivery directly from the flagship Walmart app. The app also provides access to items for free next-day or two-day delivery, as well its Walmart Pay payment service.

The company will also add Walmart Grocery to its Walmart.com website in the coming weeks, once again in the name of a more unified customer experience.

The updated Walmart app is rolling out in phases, and the Grocery app is scheduled to be deactivated this summer. Its flagship app is currently the No. 2 Apple app in the Shopping Category.

The competition for online grocery customer loyalty is a fierce one, with Amazon and its Whole Foods ownership proving to be a formidable opponent. Walmart has been investing in such store technology as robotics and computer vision to help transform both its store operations and supply chain in the ongoing battle for e-commerce market share.

Amazon, meanwhile, has been busy opening its own full-scale cashier-less grocery store.

 “We know customers want to shop Walmart in ways that help them save time and money, and we’re committed to simplifying their shopping experience,” said Janey Whiteside, executive vice president and Walmart chief customer officer. “We’re excited for the experience one app will create for our customers and our business, and we look forward to introducing new features in the future.”

The retailer named a new COO of e-commerce earlier this month.

Join the conversation.