Walmart Launches Delivery as a Service to Other Retailers
Walmart is now in the DAAS business.
Just a few weeks after announcing it will offer some of its retail technologies to small and mid-sized retailers to help them navigate their digital transformation, the mega retailer has revealed it’s commercializing its delivery platform, beginning with delivery as a service. The move will extend Walmart’s expertise in delivering goods to customers to businesses of all sizes.
The new line of business – Walmart GoLocal – is a white-label delivery as a service offering and includes delivery on a range of assortment, including those with size and complex requirements, as well as the flexibility to meet varying timelines. The business will also rapidly expand, Walmart said, to offer additional innovative offerings.
“We’ve worked hard to develop a reliable last mile delivery program for our customers,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president, last mile, Walmart U.S. “Now, we’re pleased to be able to use these capabilities to serve another set of customers, local merchants. Be it delivering goods from a local bakery to auto supplies from a national retailer, we’ve designed Walmart GoLocal to be customizable for merchants of all sizes and categories so they can focus on doing what they do best, leaving delivery speed and efficiency to us.”
Walmart GoLocal has already established a number of contractual agreements with national and enterprise retail clients it said, and is currently accepting select new merchant partners at www.walmart.com/GoLocal.
This business is a new part of the Walmart’s overall strategy, which includes diversifying its revenue streams with initiatives like Walmart Connect and Walmart Fulfillment Services. Its launch comes weeks after the retailer announced plans to begin offering technologies and capabilities to help other businesses navigate their own digital transformation. To start, this includes Walmart’s technology to offer seamless pickup and delivery of online purchases. These retailers will also be able to easily add products to Walmart’s online marketplace.
“In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it’s more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant’s needs,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “Walmart has spent years building and scaling commerce capabilities that support our network of more than 4,700 stores and we look forward to helping other businesses have access to the same reliable, quality and low-cost services.