Communications of the ACM
Walmart Rolling Out the Robots
Walmart is expanding its use of robots in stores.
Credit: Rick T. Wilking/Getty Images
Walmart is expanding its deployments of robots in its stores to help track inventory, clean floors, and unload trucks, as part of initiatives to control labor costs as it invests more on higher wages and new services like online grocery delivery.
The company said at least 300 stores will add automated devices that scan shelves for out-of-stock products this year, while software-powered autonomous floor scrubbers will be deployed in 1,500 stores.
Walmart also will more than double the number of conveyor belts used at its stores that automatically scan and sort products as they come off trucks.
Walmart’s Mark Propes said, "With automation, we are able to take away some of the tasks that associates don’t enjoy doing. At the same time, we continue to open up new jobs in other things in the store."
From The Wall Street Journal
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