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Walmart reimagines in-store shopping for mobile

Written by Tom Ryan

Sources: Walmart

Many shoppers only seem to use their smartphones in-store to check prices on Amazon.com, but Walmart hopes to change that habit with a newly added store assistant feature to deliver a “totally re-imagined experience for in-store shopping." Walmart's mobile app now features a product search bar, barcode scanner, customer reviews and Walmart Pay. Among the new and expanded features are:
  • Smarter, Better Lists: Shoppers can now enter a custom term like “milk” — rather than an exact item match — to check item stock at their local store. The total cart, plus tax, is now calculated as shoppers make their list, allowing them to see the cost of their basket before arriving at the store.
  • Improved Store Navigation with Store Maps: Walmart has created maps for each of its over 4,700 stores so customers will be able to find where any item is located, down to the aisle and shelf area.
  • Additional Store Information: Shoppers can check whether a store has a department like a Photo Center or Auto Care Center, see department hours and phone numbers, and secure details, such as Rug Doctor availability.
Daniel Eckert, SVP of Walmart services and digital acceleration, wrote in a blog entry that, in the future, the app may be able to drop pins on a store map tied to the location of items on a shopper’s list, enable customers to better plan in-store routes and book services, such as an oil change, in advance. “We’re building a shopping tool unlike any other in retail — and one that makes virtually every element of the store shopping experience faster and more convenient for you,” wrote Mr. Eckert. “We’re excited about the Walmart app updates we’re launching this week, but we’re even more excited about what’s to come. With the Walmart app, shopping our stores is seamless, easy — and pretty darn cool.”

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