Walmart Boosts Automation with Sensors to Track 90 Million Pallets Across US Stores

Walmart is taking a major step toward automating its massive US operations by using sensors to track 90 million pallets of groceries each year. The move is designed to reduce routine manual tasks while giving the retail giant unprecedented visibility over its inventory.

📦 How the Sensor Technology Works

The sensors, provided by Wiliot, a San Diego-based supply chain tech company, are tiny microchips just 0.7 mm² in size. They are embedded into shipping labels attached to shrink-wrapped pallets moving from warehouses to stores.

These devices use Bluetooth connections to monitor:

Location of the pallet

Condition and temperature of the goods, including perishables

Dwell time at warehouses or transit points

Walmart started testing these sensors at a Texas warehouse in 2023 and has now rolled them out to 500 locations. By the end of 2026, the sensors will cover the company’s entire 4,600-store US network and 40 distribution centres.

💡 Why This Matters

Greg Cathey, Walmart’s Senior VP of Transformation and Innovation, said the technology addresses “one of the hardest problems in retail — knowing exactly what we own and where it is at any given moment.”

With this automation:

Walmart can cut down on manual inventory checks that once involved pen, paper, and employee scans.

AI systems will use the real-time data to make smarter decisions about stocking, distribution, and freshness monitoring.

Routine, repetitive tasks can be removed from employees’ roles, allowing them to focus on higher-value work.

The investment strengthens Walmart’s position as a low-cost food retailer, even as competitors like Costco and Aldi expand in the US. Currently, Walmart sells over a fifth of all groceries in America.

🤖 A Broader Push for Automation

Walmart has been aggressively automating across its supply chain:

AI is used for truck loading and assisting shoppers.

The sensor rollout feeds directly into AI-driven precision decision-making.

Despite automation, Walmart plans to keep its headcount steady. The goal is to make jobs less monotonous, not to cut positions.

📊 Financial Impact

Walmart’s shares have surged nearly 27% in the past year, giving the company a market value of over $800 billion.

While financial terms with Wiliot were not disclosed, the tech is expected to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.

🔹 Key Takeaways

Walmart is integrating cutting-edge sensors to track inventory across the US.

The technology will monitor 90 million pallets annually, including perishables.

Automation and AI are central to Walmart’s strategy to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Employees will benefit from fewer repetitive tasks, while Walmart strengthens its competitive edge.