12 April 2024 – The narrative of warehouse robots is one of trying to stay competitive with Amazon. Over ten years have passed since the internet behemoth transformed its delivery services by acquiring Kiva Systems. Walmart is approaching automation more haphazardly in an effort to stay competitive, forming alliances with a variety of robotics companies.
The mega-retailer launched cooperation with Fox Robotics on Thursday, bringing 19 robotic forklifts from the Austin-based firm to its distribution centers. The announcement today comes after a sixteen-month trial period during which Walmart tested the technology at Distribution Centre 6020.
The corporation refers to the distribution center in Florida as its first “high-tech DC.” Before introducing automation and other technology to its larger network of fulfillment and distribution centers, it tests them in these warehouses. Walmart started testing Symbiotics’s package sorting and retrieval technology in DC 6020.
Conclusion
Walmart almost doubled its initial goal of 25 RDCs when it announced intentions to roll out the technology to all 42 of them after that successful trial. The shop plans to purchase more if things go smoothly, but this week’s announcement is more subdued and only targets four high-tech DCs.