Advertisement

WSJ: Walmart Ends In-Store Robotics Partnership, Will Use Associates Instead

Walmart has reportedly ended its partnership with Bossa Nova Robotics, which had involved an effort to automate certain in-store tasks through the use of robots, according to The Wall Street Journal. People familiar with the matter said the retail giant found different solutions that worked just as well.

The rise of store fulfillment and curbside pickup has led to more associates traveling through Walmart’s aisles, which generated new data on inventory problems, according to sources. The retailer is now looking for ways to use these workers to monitor product amounts and locations, although it still uses robots for tasks such as floor scrubbing.

Walmart’s departure from Bossa Nova marks a change in strategy. As recently as January, the retailer had planned to add robots to 650 additional U.S. stores by the end of summer, which would have brought the devices to a total of 1,000 locations. At the time, officials stated that the shelf-scanning robots could handle tasks that previously took up to two weeks to complete as often as twice a day.

Advertisement

Featured Event

View the Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series on-demand to uncover key 2025 retail trends, from AI and personalization to social commerce. Gain expert insights, data-driven predictions, and actionable takeaways to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Uncovering What’s Next in Retail

On-Demand Limited Video Series

Q1 is a pivotal time for retail, with experts analyzing holiday sales and forecasting trends. View the full lineup of the Retail Trendcaster video series for insights on consumer spending, AI, personalization, social commerce, and more—helping you focus on what truly matters in 2025.

Brought to you by
Retail TouchPoints
Access Now
Retail TouchPoints is a brand of Emerald X LLC. By clicking the button and submitting information, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be shared with corporate affiliates of Emerald X LLC, and other organizations such as event hosts, speakers, sponsors, and partners. Please read our Privacy Policy and our Terms Of Use for more information on our policies.

Access The Media Kit

Interests:

Access Our Editorial Calendar




If you are downloading this on behalf of a client, please provide the company name and website information below: