Walmart introduces AI-Powered assistant designed to help merchants source products efficiently for both physical stores and the online marketplace.
The new AI tool processes complex data sets, providing insights, diagnosing product performance issues, and handling operational inquiries. Wally also flags unresolved matters, streamlines calculations and forecasts, and eliminates the need for manual reporting—allowing merchants to focus on customer needs and strategic decision-making.
How Walmart’s AI Assistant Works
Walmart’s AI-driven tool “Wally” simplifies merchant operations by offering instant, data-driven insights through a user-friendly interface.
Key Features
- Processes complex data sets to offer merchants quick insights.
- Identifies and diagnoses product performance issues.
- Handles operational inquiries with real-time feedback.
- Flags unresolved issues for proactive decision-making.
- Provides actionable recommendations through simple queries—no specialized technical knowledge required.
- Automates reporting and forecasting, eliminating manual work.
This AI-powered assistant is designed to boost merchant productivity by removing the time-consuming burden of data analysis and reporting.
Walmart’s Vision for AI in Retail
According to Walmart, Wally is more than just an automation tool. The company states:
“Wally is not just about automating mundane tasks; it’s a strategic asset that empowers our merchants to dedicate more time to creative and innovative pursuits that elevate the shopping experience and align with the changing expectations of our customers.”
Walmart aims to continuously refine Wally based on merchant feedback, ensuring it evolves into an autonomous AI assistant that operates within set parameters to execute strategies effectively.
Walmart’s Adaptive Retail Strategy
The launch of Wally aligns with Walmart’s broader strategy to advance Adaptive Retail—a new approach to personalized shopping experiences that adapt to customer preferences and real-time demand.
Walmart’s AI and Tech Investments
Walmart has been heavily investing in next-generation technologies, including:
- Generative AI (GenAI) to improve customer and merchant experiences.
- Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance product visualization and online shopping.
- Immersive commerce platforms for engaging digital shopping experiences.
In November 2024, Walmart successfully used AI and GenAI tools to streamline holiday shopping, demonstrating the efficiency and scalability of AI-driven retail solutions.
The Future of AI in Walmart’s Operations
With Wally, Walmart is reinventing how merchants operate, aiming to boost efficiency, streamline decision-making, and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Merchants can now make faster, data-driven decisions without manual reporting.
- Walmart’s Adaptive Retail strategy ensures a personalized, seamless shopping experience for customers.
- Ongoing AI advancements will continue to refine Wally’s capabilities for even greater automation and insights.
As AI continues to reshape the retail industry, Walmart’s latest innovation positions the company at the forefront of AI-powered commerce.
Will AI assistants like Wally redefine retail merchandising? Only time will tell—but Walmart is betting on AI to shape the future of shopping.