Four pieces of technology Walmart is using to keep stores in shape

The conversation around AI these days is reshaping retail as much as it’s reshaping everything else.

Walmart is changing, too. One way the retailer is keeping stores relevant is with technology and automation. Lately, Walmart has been experimenting with in-store tech and devices to help associates complete tasks faster and be more productive.

During Walmart Associates Week in Bentonville, Arkansas, executives showed some of the tech the company has been testing in both Walmart and club chain Sam’s Club stores.

Digital shelf labels

With over 130,000 SKUs in a typical Walmart supercenter, keeping prices accurate is important. Walmart's Digital Shelf Labels (DSLs) make that easier, according to Todd Peterson, VP and regional general manager of operations for the New York Metro area at Walmart. The black rail-like tags, which run on batteries, are installed across Walmart store shelves and can update multiple prices across different aisles in the store with the push of a button.

When a supplier changes a pack size or unit price, the update goes out to all stores at once. It also means associates spend less time on manual price changes and more time with customer service on the floor, explained Peterson.

“That’s a heavy lift for our associates to typically execute and implement,” Peterson told reporters during a floor walk at Walmart’s supercenter stores in Fayetteville. “Now we’re able to do that when the store is closed—hit a button, all the prices change at the same time, and our associates aren’t having to run around and trying to make that happen while customers are shopping those items.”

DSLs are a sizeable rollout for Walmart and have been installed in over 2,300 stores as of June, and Walmart said it will expand these to its full chain of US stores by the end of the year.

Computer Vision

Buying produce at a grocery store can be a clunky experience, from hunting for a barcode to counting and weighing it.

Walmart’s AI-powered Computer Vision tool can act on a blind grab and identify the correct item, according to Christyn Keef, VP of checkout experience at Walmart. When a shopper places the produce on the register and hits “Look up item,” the system can identify it. If the tool gets it wrong, the customer can manually select the right one, and the system learns from the correction.

“All I have to do is put this down on the register, push ‘Look up item,’ and it’ll say, ‘That looks like mango.’ Yup, it’s a mango. Boom, done,” Keef, VP of checkout experience at Walmart, told reporters during the walkthrough.

The technology is currently in about 30% of Walmart stores, Keef said, with plans to reach roughly half in the near future.

Inventory robot scanner

At Sam’s Club, an inventory robot helps associates track apparel sizes and colors on the floor. The large industrial robot—which doubles as a floor scrubber—uses RFID, or radio frequency identification, tags embedded in each product’s price tag to scan the floor once a day.

The system can tell associates exactly what’s on the floor—say, five larges and mediums but zero smalls—and where the remaining stock is, whether that’s under the table or in the back, Ben Ellison, group director of product Management , told reporters during a visit to a Sam’s Club store in Springdale, Arkansas.

“So it makes it really easy for our associates to stop counting these apparel tables multiple times per day,” Ellison said.

Touring agent

Sam’s Club is also piloting a touring partner for its associates. The AI-powered tool delivers real-time insights and coaching, helping leaders strengthen execution, develop associates, and enhance the member experience. Roughly 1.3 million US Walmart associates are using the iPad-like device.

Amanda Murphy, director of frontline learning at Sam’s Club, asked one of the reporters to speak into the touring agent and give her tips and tricks on how to write “Happy birthday!” using an icing bag.

After writing "Happy birthday" on a cake, the reporter took a photo, asked the agent for feedback, and got a real-time readout of her work. The agent led with positive reinforcement, flagging what she did well, before offering specific tips to improve—like how to angle the wrist or create smoother letters. The touring agent is built around Walmart’s internal standards and values, with the idea that leaders can constantly be improving their teams’ talent, according to Murphy.

“So, think about a touring agent in your pocket that you can pull out,” Murphy said. “You can tour your department, and it will give you real-time feedback and coaching of how you can make your area better for your members.”