Walmart Mexico anticipates having smart kiosks and more customization

Brian Timmeny, vice president of technology at Walmart Mexico, said the company has transformed its operations from start to finish and will continue to do so to remain current.

Walmart , one of the largest retail chains in the world, is building a future in Mexico based on technological innovation , logistics optimization and a firm commitment to sustainability. Brian Timmeny, Vice President of Technology for Walmart of Mexico and Central America, shared a comprehensive vision of how the company is transforming its business model to meet the changing needs of consumers.

One of the company's priorities is the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning as fundamental tools to improve the customer experience.

According to the executive, these technologies allow for maintaining a clean and updated catalogue, connecting consumers with the products they want and offering competitive prices.

"Machine Learning is one of the foundations that we have to lay no matter what. It's not so much of a future, it's very much of a past, it's been around for a long time, but it's very important to make those basics available to users," Timmeny said.

Walmart is also betting on the development of digital assistants and the use of natural language to facilitate shopping interactions, such as smart kiosks for self-checkout or to complement the experience that users have with their habits on the company's app. "The very near future involves people being able to interact with technology through natural language. For example, saying: 'I want what I bought last week and I want you to send it to my house.' These types of interactions will be key," explained the specialist.

The concept of omnichannel is key. The company integrates the physical and digital shopping experience through solutions such as the same shopping cart for both channels, in-store kiosks and the possibility of collecting orders placed online.

This integration not only improves convenience for the customer, but also optimizes inventory use. "When you are in the store and want a specific product that is not available, you can order it directly from a kiosk or your smartphone and have it delivered to your home. All of this is connected in one system," Timmeny said.

Logistics is one area where Walmart is making significant inroads. With the help of partners like Symbotic, the company is automating its distribution centers to improve inventory management efficiency and reduce costs. "We just signed a contract with a company called Symbotic. This is going to automate distribution centers, starting with two facilities. This process will ensure much more efficient and consistent product handling."

Walmart is also exploring trends such as machine-to-machine communication and the impact of these technologies on retail. From refrigerators that can automate orders to custom subscriptions for recurring deliveries, the company is looking to simplify consumers' lives and offer solutions tailored to their needs.

"We want customers to decide to what extent they want to automate their purchases, always making sure to offer options that are useful and reliable," Timmeny said.

Digitalization and automation at Walmart have had varied impacts on its workforce globally. In the United States, the company has implemented advanced technologies in its distribution centers, achieving double efficiency with half the staff, which represents a fourfold increase in productivity.

However, the brand has stressed that automation is designed to reduce the physical burden on employees and extend their careers, rather than eliminate jobs.