Walmart and IBM: Enhancing Last-Mile Delivery for Retailers

Last-mile delivery, the process of transporting goods from a distribution hub to the final delivery destination, is known to be one of the most challenging aspects of supply chain logistics.
Not only does it incur high costs due to inefficiencies, but consumers are increasingly expecting rapid and flexible delivery options, putting businesses under mounting pressure to meet these demands.
Walmart GoLocal, the white-label delivery service created by Walmart, provides a range of solutions for businesses looking to enhance their last-mile delivery services.
Walmart has joined forces with IBM to integrate the service into IBM Sterling Order Management. The collaboration combines Walmart GoLocal’s expertise in last-mile delivery with IBM’s order management platform, offering a seamless way for IBM retail clients to access an advanced suite of delivery solutions.
What is Walmart GoLocal?
Walmart GoLocal helps businesses implement effective delivery and fulfilment solutions, including same-day, next-day, multi-day and scheduled deliveries, as well as options for batched deliveries or transporting large, bulky items.
Drawing on Walmart’s retail and logistics knowledge, the service enables companies to grow and scale while delivering a reliable customer experience.
Walmart GoLocal supports businesses across various industries, including retail, food and home services, with a commitment to delivering on time and with no hidden fees.
Since its launch, Walmart GoLocal has become a trusted partner for businesses seeking efficient last-mile delivery solutions. By collaborating with IBM, Walmart GoLocal continues to build on this success, helping businesses optimise their supply chains and meet the growing demand for fast, reliable delivery services.
“As a last-mile delivery partner built by retail, for retail, Walmart GoLocal is committed to streamlining the last-mile delivery process for our clients,” says Rina Hurst, Vice President of Walmart GoLocal.
“By integrating Walmart GoLocal into IBM Sterling, we’re taking convenience to the next level. IBM customers can now tap into Walmart GoLocal’s extensive last-mile delivery network and robust suite of delivery capabilities, empowering them to enhance efficiency and grow their business.”
Streamlining last-mile delivery for retailers
Walmart GoLocal is built on Walmart’s extensive experience in retail and logistics, providing businesses with delivery solutions that are reliable and scalable. Since its launch in August 2021, Walmart GoLocal has achieved a 98%+ on-time same-day delivery rate, supporting millions of deliveries nationwide.
By partnering with IBM, Walmart GoLocal continues to expand its impact by bringing its services to a wider audience.
The integration focuses on making the integration process user-friendly and adaptable to different business needs. It allows IBM’s retail customers to embed Walmart GoLocal’s delivery capabilities into their operations, simplifying the often complex and expensive final step of the supply chain while addressing growing consumer demand for faster deliveries.
IBM clients now gain the ability to select Walmart GoLocal as a delivery partner with minimal effort.
The new partnership is designed to simplify operations for businesses. IBM’s order management system enables retailers to choose from various delivery providers and, with Walmart GoLocal now included, businesses can leverage its delivery expertise to scale their logistics operations and meet customer expectations without requiring significant system customisation or development work.
Chris Townsend, Global MD for Walmart at IBM, concludes: “I’m excited to see IBM’s expertise in order management and interoperability paired with Walmart GoLocal’s experience and scale, driving innovation and success in inventory optimisation and last-mile delivery."
Explore the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Supply Chain Digital is a BizClik brand.