Walmart is a retail company that integrates different types of retail stores and has a complex structure of warehouses, supply chain partners, and stores. As a result, its information management system (IMS) is similarly immense, incorporating logistics, transportation, supply chain management, customer management, online shopping, delivery, and more. The business currently incorporates various technological solutions to reach its objectives. These include cloud data storage, satellite communication, blockchain technology, the Internet of Things, radio-frequency identification (RFID), electronic data interchange (EDI), artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and drones (Garcia, 2020). The innovative technology implementation aligns with Walmart’s goals of dominating the retail market, expanding its stores’ contents and locations, and improving logistics.
Walmart’s warehousing and transportation combine the use of the Internet of Things and the vendor-managed inventory model. The latter implies that suppliers are responsible for using data from Walmart databases about the company’s inventory levels and sending the necessary stock to Walmart (Greenspan, 2019). In turn, Walmart handles the transportation of goods from its warehouses to retail stores and utilizes robots for automated unloading (Heller, 2018). By using this system, Walmart is able to monitor and record its different inventory types and outsource some tasks to its partners while relying on its cloud-based database. The Internet of Things is implemented in warehouses in the form of sensors that regularly check the products’ status and food contamination risks (Greenspan, 2019). Similarly, transportation is streamlined with RFID technology and EDI systems to ensure faster product flow (Garcia, 2020). These technologies create a network that allows for updating the inventory databases in real-time.
Walmart continuously seeks to use new technology to retain its competitive advantage in the retail market. The company’s cloud computing is a unique feature that allows the business to store large amounts of information without sacrificing the speed of information access and update (Garcia, 2020). Another potential strong aspect is Walmart’s early adoption of blockchain, robots, and drones. Currently, Walmart is partnering with three operators to develop a system of drone deliveries that is already at the stage of implementation and expansion in several states (Singh et al., 2022). Furthermore, Walmart uses automation and AI to improve its delivery systems (Singh et al., 2022). Faster delivery, better websites and applications, and innovative approaches to retail experiences ensure increased customer satisfaction.
As noted above, the combination of Azure-based cloud storage systems and the vendor-managed inventory model allows Walmart to excel at better supply chain coordination. The use of technology and delegation of tasks streamlines the transportation of goods, minimizes delays, and lowers the business’s costs in controlling stock flow (Garcia, 2020). By simplifying the process and including vendors in warehouse management, Walmart can focus its resources on improving customer experiences. Additionally, Walmart uses EDI systems to monitor orders and determine product inventory for all goods (Garcia, 2020). This technology makes product flow more informative, which raises the quality of data and lowers the risk of low-running stocks.
Implementing various technological advancements allows Walmart to create a system that provides detailed information about each product in all warehouses, stores, and other locations. Vendors use this data to resupply the retailer without delays. At the same time, this data ensures that Walmart’s online applications for customers provide them with the best customer experience. It is vital for Walmart to focus on its technologies to manage the international business efficiently, decrease the risk of a low and high stock, and store, share, and update large quantities of data. Information management systems used at Walmart allow the company to sell a wide variety of products, offer quick delivery, and increase its profits by lowering logistics costs.
References
Garcia, G. (2020). Information systems utilization of an organization: The case of Walmart Inc. [Thesis]. College of Computer and Information Science.
Greenspan, R. (2019). Walmart’s inventory management. Panmore Institute. Web.
Heller, L. (2018). 7 ways Walmart is innovating with technology. Retail Dive. Web.
Singh, V., Kaur, M., Vashishth, P., & Kumar, S. (2022). Walmart innovation strategy uses emerging tech and acquisitions. GreyB Services. Web.