Walmart's Shakeup: AI, Layoffs, and Themed Trucks Revamp Retail Giant
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.
Add to basket failed.
Please try again later
Add to Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Remove from Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Walmart's Shakeup: AI, Layoffs, and Themed Trucks Revamp Retail Giant
-
Narrated by:
-
By:
About this listen
Picture this I have just wrapped up one of the busiest couple of days in retail history First off the headlines the end of August will see Walmart closing its Coon Rapids Minnesota location a fixture in the area since 1990 leaving 176 employees affected Fox 9 and CBS News Minnesota report that these layoffs kick in permanently after a 90 day paid job search period for employees The company says it is all about financial results and the store's older layout with less focus on groceries just does not match where customer demands are trending That is a sign of a bigger shakeup Walmart is modernizing 650 stores across 47 states with upgrades running up to a million dollars each as part of a massive transformation push This is not just about shiny new fixtures either There is a real tech edge Walmart Global Tech has now embedded AI everywhere from shopping to supply chains to employee efficiency and the Sparky assistant inside the mobile app lets shoppers use natural language to plan meals and get suggestions Internally even warehouse robots and micro fulfillment centers are making operations sleeker delivering a 20 percent drop in fulfillment costs and a 47 percent jump in speed This digital play paid off Walmart's US e-commerce division finally turned profitable in 2025
Of course not all innovation is smooth sailing The fight against theft means Shrewsbury Missouri just saw Walmart ditch self checkout leading to more than a 50 percent drop in reported thefts and 11 percent fewer police calls since January Then there is the little things like employee life No more earbuds on the sales floor a move Walmart argues is about boosting customer service after complaints about distracted staff surfaced according to Taste of Country
Meanwhile it is not just in-store where Walmart is flexing Retail TouchPoints and Walmart Experiences reveal that I am sending out themed delivery trucks to festivals and concerts all autumn including a KPop truck for KCON LA and a “Nature Break” truck for outdoor fans in Brooklyn It is all about showing the world the brand's fun and fresh side with photo ops and swag Social media picked up the local community spirit too On Instagram Walmart posted about supporting the National Night Out event in Pottstown Pennsylvania
Finally with the market on edge over tariffs and consumer spending trends Walmart's upcoming August earnings report is widely anticipated as a gauge for the broader retail climate This moment is being closely watched by investors and insiders alike according to Ainvest If the social and tech shakeups continue at this pace the headlines will keep lining up faster than a flash sale
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.