The company's goal is to use robotics to replace labor-intensive processes, for example the gathering of requested items in fulfilment centers. Its Alphabot hybrid warehouse system provides automated picking that works alongside human workers, with robots retrieving items and delivering them to a picking station where workers can efficiently prepare the customer orders.

With such a unique position as a division of a major retailer, Walmart Advanced Systems & Robotics should benefit from insight into the fulfilment issues that will most benefit from robotics automation. With more projects in development, it will be interesting see what it tackles next in grocery supply chain automation or beyond.