A Walmart spokesperson adds:“ We regularly test new tools, features and capabilities to better connect with and serve our customers – wherever and however they choose to shop. Regardless of the channel, our goal remains the same: to deliver a fast, seamless and engaging customer experience.”
All this supports the broadening of Walmart’ s marketplace, as it brings in more sellers and categories.
Dan Miller, the retailer’ s VP of Product Management, explains:“ As a people-led, tech-powered company, Walmart is committed to providing our associates with technology that helps them work smarter, faster and more efficiently.”
Looking forward, more than 30 % of urban fulfilment is expected to be handled by dark stores by the end of 2025. That includes sectors beyond grocery – apparel, home goods and personal care are all moving toward dark fulfilment.
However, permanent dark stores introduce new challenges like managing the overhead costs of a space that generates no in-store sales and ensuring labour remains both consistent and specialised.
Integrating dark store operations into broader supply chains will also call for major real-time data and coordinated logistics systems. That said, the advantages are plain to see, resulting in faster service, better stock control and lower costs per order. supplychaindigital. com 95