Walmart invests in front-end service
‘The Checkout Promise’ – shorter check-out queues
Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer, stated that the retailer recognises that customers want to get in and out of stores swiftly, with current delays at the check-outs being one of their largest frustrations. Walmart is addressing this issue by promising customers that it will open all of its checkouts registers during peak shopping times, during the forthcoming holiday season.
More staff to speed up efficiency
Walmart has been testing technology to improve front-end operations, including scan and go in around 200 stores as well as self-serve kiosks. However, with queues continuing to be highlighted by its customers as a key issue, Walmart is going to allocate more staff hours to the front-end, along with other key areas of the store.
Priorities for the new leadership
Driving comp store sales is a major priority for Walmart US’ new president and CEO Greg Foran. This new push comes as Walmart has seen store traffic under pressure for a number of quarters. While the retailer has invested significantly in pricing, including its recently launched ‘Savings Catcher’ app, further investment is required to improve in-store operations.
source: RetailAnalysis
