Straight Talkin' with Zeus:
Walmart to establish cutting-edge distribution hub in Tennessee
Walmart's rollin' out another automated fulfillment center, y'all! This 925,000-square-foot beast is gonna rise in Lebanon, Tennessee, and it's aimin' to revolutionize Walmart's supply chain and e-commerce game. Plan is to kick things off in the fall of 2022, bucko.
Now, this ain't Walmart's first rodeo when it comes to automatin' their supply chain. Back in February, good ol' Doug McMillon announced their plans to boost investment in these automated e-commerce fulfillment processes. The man said it themselves, they're readin' to scale their automation game, bringin' more money into their distribution and e-commerce fulfillment centers, and buildin' what they call "market fulfillment centers" right beside some of their stores. Doug said they'd hit a wall pickin' and deliverin' from stores and that this automation would change all that.
So, why this new center in Tennessee? Well, they're sayin' it's gonna help Walmart beat the competition when it comes to their Walmart+ subscription service—a rival to Amazon Prime. They're estimatin' Walmart's added anywhere from 10 to 35 million subscribers to this service, which promises free next-day and two-day delivery. According to Steve Miller, senior vice president of supply chain operations at Walmart U.S., this new compound in Wilson County is gonna be a big part of their supply chain network, focusin' on fulfillin' Walmart.com orders and supportin' their promise of fast shipping.
Other retailers, like Chewy, Target, ThredUp, Saks, and even The Home Depot, are jumpin' on the automated fulfillment bandwagon too, realizin' that online shoppin' ain't goin' anywhere. In fact, CBRE's June report suggests the U.S. needs to build 330 million square feet worth of warehouse space by 2025 just to keep up with growin' e-commerce order volume.
Now, folks might be wonderin' what's so special about this new facility. Well, it's gonna use AI software, robots, and human associates to ship orders to customers, findin' items within its system with robots and bringin' 'em to employees for packin' before shippin'. The company's on a recruitin' spree right now, offerin' full-time jobs within the center, like a general manager, human resource manager, and maintenance manager. So if you're livin' around Lebanon, Tennessee, and fancy workin' for Walmart, this might just be your opportunity.
Sound off in the comments section, folks! What do you think about Walmart's new move? Is this the future of retail supply chains? Let's hear your thoughts.
- Walmart's latest automated fulfillment center in Tennessee, spanning 925,000 square feet, aims to disrupt the company's supply chain and e-commerce sector, set to launch in fall 2022.
- This isn't Walmart's first foray into automating its supply chain; doubling down on automation was announced by Doug McMillon earlier in February.
- The objective of this new center is to strengthen Walmart's Walmart+ subscription service, a rival to Amazon Prime, by supporting fast shipping and Walmart.com orders.
- Other retailers like Chewy, Target, ThredUp, Saks, and The Home Depot are also investing in automated fulfillment centers, recognizing the growing trend of online shopping.
- The new facility in Wilson County plans to leverage AI software, robots, and human associates to locate, pack, and ship orders efficiently.
- Walmart is currently on a recruiting spree, offering full-time positions for a general manager, human resource manager, and maintenance manager in the new center for those living around Lebanon, Tennessee.
- The advancement of technology in the form of AI, robotics, and automated fulfillment centers has the potential to revolutionize retail business models, sparking debates about its impact on culture, jobs, policy, business, and even TV portrayals of daily life.
