In a recent statement, Walmart outlined its strategy to create four next-generation fulfillment centers strategically located across the U.S. The centers will provide service to 75 percent of the U.S. population, increasing the company’s current reach from 90 percent to 95 percent of the country.
In partnership with Knapp, a fulfillment solutions tech company, Walmart is creating an automated, high-density storage system to streamline current processes. The centers will combine people, robotics, and machine learning to create a positive work environment while increasing fulfillment speeds, according to Walmart.
Walmart’s new centers will consolidate the current 12-step process to only 5:
• Unload seller and supplier merchandise cases
• Receive cases and separate items into totes
• Pick the customers’ order at an automation-assisted picking station
• Pack the customers’ order with custom-fit packaging
• Ship the completed order through an automated process
The fulfillment centers will also create new tech-focused jobs like control technicians, quality audit analysts, and flow managers, in addition to employing over 4,000 associates.
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