Walmart to check drone delivery of grocery, home items in battle with Amazon
Walmart said on Wednesday it might run a pilot program for delivery of grocery and household products through automated drones, along side end-to-end delivery firm Flytrex, as the U.S. retailer looks to strengthen its delivery business.
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart said the test would start on Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with cloud-controlled drones learning and dropping off select items.
“We know that it’ll be a while before we see many packages delivered via drone. that also seems like a touch of fantasy ,” Tom Ward, senior vice-president, customer products, said during a statement.
The company has accelerated the expansion of its pick-up and delivery services within the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, as virus-wary consumers increasingly prefer having items delivered at their doorsteps.
Walmart, whose U.S. online sales doubled within the second quarter, has previously partnered with Ford Motor Co and self-driving vehicle startups Gatik and Nuro to explore delivery through autonomous vehicles.
