MEMO
To: Burt Flickinger
From: Mali Zhao
Date: 10/21/2015
Re: Wal-Mart’s ecommerce innovator: @WalmartLabs
Summary
Wal-Mart creates their data center called @Walmarts. They generate data from their customers and operating Wal-Mart’s mobile app, which is their strategy of ecommerce innovation. The local grocery pickup location is Wal-Mart’s strategy on online retailing. They maintain their everyday lowest price to shoppers by using the Wal-Mart mobile app service of Barcode Scanning. The mobile app will help the customer to compare the price with other stores to insure their lowest price; otherwise Wal-Mart will pay the difference. Wal-Mart currently announced their “Shipping Pass” to challenge their biggest online competitor’s Amazon Prime.
Wal-Mart’s Ecommerce Innovator: @WalmartLabs
Wal-Mart creates the technology behind their ecommerce called @WalmartLabs. It is the strategy that Wal-Mart uses to improve their shopping experience for their customers. @WalmartLabs redefines ecommerce for Wal-Mart in order to help their customers to save money and live better by personalizing data. It helps them to better understand their customers both online and in-store. Their job includes mainly operating the Wal-Mart Mobile. 6
They generate information from customers by using the Wal-Mart mobile app. In addition to using mobile app to place online orders, the app have main services of special offers, store locator, and planning efficient shopping trip to Wal-Mart. Customer can
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates retail stores around the world through three primary segments: Wal-Mart U.S., Wal-Mart International and Sam 's Club. Sam 's Club most closely resembles Costco’s sales format; however, Costco is still considered to be in direct competition with both Wal-Mart and its subsidiary. Wal-Mart stores offer a variety of goods including deli and bakery items; meat; produce; frozen foods; dry groceries; health and beauty aids; photo processing; pharmaceuticals; apparel; hunting products; automotive goods; and consumer electronics. Wal-Mart has its own cellular phone service, Straight Talk that provides service primarily through Verizon 's towers. The company also provides some financial services and products including money orders and prepaid cards, check cashing and bill payment. Both brand-name and private-label goods are sold in Wal-Mart stores and via its website. As of 2015, Wal-Mart operates nearly 12,000 stores under its three subsidiaries in 27
Wal-Mart uses a wide range of technology. When a company fails to recognize the importance of technology, the company runs the risk of being overtaken by competition. It uses a merchandise scanning system that let the managers or employees know if the stock on a shelf is getting low so they can be responsive to consumers’ buying habits, and make sure the items they are looking for are there for them (Solman, 2004). Another recent technology that Wal-Mart has implemented is self-checkout registers. This technology has made it easier and faster for consumers. Instead of waiting in long lines, they can just check themselves out and save some time. As this technology replaces employees, Wal-Mart can save the money that they paid to their cashiers. This could
Another thing Wal-Mart uses is many of their departments are cash wraps. Most of these cash wraps tended to be things like batteries, gum, candy, and soda. With Wal-Mart being such a large store, many departments also have their own checkout counters that allow customers who are only looking for certain items to be able to get in and out. Wal-Mart also uses end caps on almost every aisle in the store. These end caps are usually impulse buy items that are offering special promotional prices. Another thing that Wal-Mart does is that it shelves their items based on frequency. The most popular items or the items that most consumers buy will be located in the beginning of the aisle and at eye level, while other infrequent items are placed lower on the shelves and more towards the end of the aisle. To accurately keep track of what items need to be restocked or what items are selling the best, Wal-Mart uses a planogram. The planogram they use utilizes SKU’s and will allow for employees to figure out exactly where everything goes and when it needs to be restocked.
4. Relations with Suppliers- Wal-Mart has in place a system that helps to achieve their goal of lower prices. This Information Technology system includes computers, networking, and internet that cuts inventories and waste and helps with speedy delivery. This system also helps Wal-Mart to keep in constant contact with suppliers by transferring the data that suppliers need so they know what Wal-Mart needs. Wal-Mart also works with suppliers to improve their production and squeezes the best prices out of its supplier. The video referred to Wal-Mart as the customer’s agent. All of this focus Wal-Mart puts on suppliers reduces costs and lowers prices. Wal-Mart’s technological/logistical leadership remains unmatched by competitors (Web, 2005).
Walmart has literally invented efficient customer response systems that enable it to maintain its low-cost leadership strategy for its physical stores, re-creating a different or separate logistics supply chain is proving difficult and expensive. Walmart has not been that involved in online shopping but now it’s being forced to increase its Internet presence based on Amazon’s success. Walmart has literally invented efficient customer response systems that enable it to maintain its low-cost leadership strategy for its physical stores, re-creating a different or separate logistics supply chain is proving difficult and expensive
Walmart on the other hand has lower prices, higher exposure in different markets, click and collect model, over one hundred markets and six hundred pickup locations. In this market Walmart has swiftly expanded its online grocery services and has done the work and the research to gain competitive advantage over Amazon and other grocery stores that offer online and pick up orders (Daniels,
Customers can search for what they are looking for specifically or browse through categories. All the items have images and detailed descriptions. Some items have reviews posted by customers who have purchased the item. They offer ship-to-store purchasing on the website where customers can shop and pay on the website then pick it up in-store within the next few days. Customers can check store availability for products. The Walmart website also offers products from other markets similarly to the way amazon offers products from different markets. Walmart also has an app that is free for both iPhones and Androids. The app is very much like the website and is also easy to use. You can make purchases and shop on the app. You can find a store near you. With the app you can even get notifications for new sales and promotions directly to your phone. Something interesting that the app has is the option to create shopping lists for all your needs. The app also has a connection to the Walmart pharmacy in which you can get refills or send in prescriptions. The app and website make it very easy to find what you need and shop. As a shopper, you can possibly have a better shopping experience online from the comfort of your own home. The website makes shopping easy with the customer reviews and fast ways of browsing and searching. To avoid driving, parking, walking mindlessly through isles, waiting patiently or impatiently on
Wal-Mart is arguably the most dynamic corporation in the last 50 years in the United States, if not the world. Arising from its beginnings in Bentonville, Arkansas, it has grown to over 4,400 discount stores, super centers and corner markets worldwide. Wal-Mart continues to expand despite public criticism of its labor practices as well as complaints about their treatment of competitors. The many strengths of Wal-Mart, like their low cost production and marketing practices, will aid Wal-Mart as it continues to grow in the retail
Wal-Mart is one of the biggest companies in the United State. Wal-Mart is basically the place or the store where they sell almost everything such as grocery, clothing, electronics, baby products, school suppliers and so many things.Wal-Mart is the best store to buy these inventories from because it has the lowest prices compare to the others stores such as WinCo or Albertsons. Wal-Mart is open 24 hours, so it is the place where you can shop anytime you want. Wal-Mart is the store where they provide a lot of discount on their inventories. Even though, Wal-Mart does not have the best qualities on their inventories, their inventories are still good enough to enjoy their products. Wal-Mart is a really successful company because almost every city has a store of Wal-Mart. It’s the place where you see the rich people,
In 1945, Sam Walton opened his first variety store and in 1962, he opened his first Wal-Mart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas. Now, Wal-Mart is expected to exceed “$200 billion a year in sales by 2002 (with current figures of) more than 100 million shoppers a week…(and as of 1999) it became the first (private-sector) company in the world to have more than one million employees.” Why? One reason is that Wal-Mart has continued “to lead the way in adopting cutting-edge technology to track how people shop, and to buy and deliver goods more efficiently and cheaply than any other rival.” Many examples exist throughout Wal-Mart’s history including its use of networks, satellite communication, UPC/barcode adoption and more. Much of the technology
They adopted Point Of Sales (POS) machine in 1983. In1985. They built Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), all the information is dealt on the computer instead of using paper. In1986, using Quick Response (QR) to built good partner relationship with suppliers, high frequency distribution with small amount each time, in order to lower risk, stocks and stimulate demand and sales. In 2006, Wal-Mart started using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), a wireless system used to identify tags and get data in any environment without any workforce. Because this, Wal-Mart can save 8350 billion per year. (MBSlib) Obviously, the primary activities in value chain of Wal-Mart are the strongpoint that can add value to the firms, especially logistics.
Walmart is a one-stop shopping experience. This means that they have a large variety of products and can provide anything and everything a shopper might want in one location. Walmart has 11,500 retail stores run by 2.3 million associates world wide. With Everyday low prices, Walmart offers unbeatable prices to their customers giving them an opportunity to save money on all products no matter what day they come into the store. These prices are not only offered on American soil, but also throughout the world using SuperCenters, Discount Stores, and Neighborhood Markets. Sores can be found throughout the world serving over 100 million customers a week. With a worldwide market, Walmart is able to utilize the use of technology, meaning that they not only use brick and mortar stores, but also online sites and mobile applications!
This paper concerning Walmart will give a brief history and development story of the retail outlet. The research will also feature the gender discrimination claims that have been made against the retail outlet store.
By 1987 Wal-Mart had the world’s largest private satellite communication system in the United States (Wailgum, T., 2007). This communication linked all the stores to the central headquarters so that the store’s entire inventory was going to one place. This was helpful in keeping better track of the inventory and profits in all the locations.
The company employs an elaborate system of information technology that supports its local as well as global operations. Through this system, it is possible to monitor the performance of its stores country-wide, on a real time basis. IT also supports Walmart’s efficient procurement. Walmart also uses the most modern technologies available to handle and manage it local and international logistic operations. By integrating technology into its