Walmart Joins Forces with Google

NORTH AMERICA–Walmart and Google have teamed up to offer a robust assortment of products for voice shopping via Google Assistant.

April 6, 2018

The partnership also marks the largest number of items currently offered by a retailer through Google Assistant.

Through the partnership, Walmart’s Easy Reorder feature will be integrated into Google Express while new voice shopping capabilities will allow consumers to build a cart of previously purchased products. Furthermore, once customers link their Walmart account to Google Express, the retailer will be able to provide shopping recommendations based on consumers’ previous purchases, including those made in Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com.

The retailer will also leverage 4,700 U.S. stores and its fulfillment network to create experiences that don’t currently exist within voice shopping–including choosing to pick up an order in store or using voice shopping to purchase fresh groceries across the country.

Additionally, the deal marks the largest number of items currently offered by a retailer through Google Assistant.

“When it comes to voice shopping, we want to

make it as easy as possible for our customers. That’s why it makes sense for us to team up with Google. They’ve made significant investments in natural language processing and artificial intelligence to deliver a powerful voice shopping experience,” says Marc Lore, president and chief executive officer, U.S. e-Commerce, Walmart. “Our new voice shopping capability, coupled with our core value proposition, including free two-day shipping and the Pickup Discount, will give our customers a compelling new way to get what they need at low prices. We will continue to focus on creating new opportunities to simplify people’s lives and help them shop in ways they’ve not yet imagined.”

The partnership also comes on the heels of Walmart’s recent acquisitions of Bonobos, ModCloth and Jet.com, all of which are fueling the

retailer’s bid to keep pace with Amazon