Walmart has officially announced the launch of several initiatives for thousands of sellers using its ecosystem. According to certain reports, the announcement would be headlined by the promise of category expansion, multichannel fulfillment, and new features that simplify selling across markets. Talk about the same on a slightly deeper level, we begin from how Walmart previewed here its Walmart LocalFinds solution, a solution which is markedly designed to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping through direct pickup and delivery from sellers’ physical stores. More on the same would reveal that Walmart LocalFinds introduces a novel way for customers to discover sellers’ merchandise in their vicinities, and in case this didn’t sound impressive enough, you can also combine the solution with Walmart’s last mile delivery network to achieve speedy deliveries. Furthermore, Walmart LocalFinds comes bearing an ability to connect shoppers with local businesses through Walmart’s digital channels. Set to launch this fall, the stated solution will begin its journey from Atlanta and Dallas. Once it does, though, it will offer hundreds of local stores a chance to join Walmart LocalFinds as it expands into their towns. In fact, 1-800-Flowers.com Inc., a leading provider of online floral and gifts, has already become the first nationwide seller to participate in the initiative.
Moving on, like we referred to, Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) also took this opportunity to introduce new ways for sellers to quickly move merchandise across markets, as well as use Walmart to fulfill any eCommerce retail order. For starters, it announced the availability of multichannel logistics. You see, Walmart’s new Multichannel Solutions program allows sellers to use Walmart’s supply chain for fulfilling orders from any eCommerce site. Hence, it’s safe to say that the retail giant will fulfill orders and manage returns on your behalf, while simultaneously offering plain, unbranded packaging, fast, reliable shipping, and competitive rates averaging 15% lower than the competition. Next up, Walmart would bring forth the prospect of cross border fulfillment. Leveraging its new Walmart Cross Border import service for full-container-load shipments, WFS can now handle transportation of inbound goods from ports of origin in Asia directly to WFS facilities across the U.S. Moving on, Walmart has even opened its carrier network to sellers for full truckload shipments. This translates to how sellers using the Walmart Preferred Carrier program can now choose to ship a few items or an entire truckload at special rates and through carriers vetted by the company itself.
Providing an interesting follow-up to Walmart achieving its two biggest sales days ever during the Holiday season of last year, the company is also set to launch solutions and perks for sellers to support their Holiday readiness. Here, you can come expecting a reimagined Global Seller Center and new app, both made to conceive seamless onboarding for eligible sellers in any market. Next up, Walmart is evidently waiving peak season storage fees for sellers who inbound their inventory to WFS fulfillment centers through Sept. 30. Hold on, there is more, as to help sellers scale their Holiday business, Walmart Marketplace Capital is even expanding to offer qualified sellers access to cash advances. The amount for that can be up to $5 million for any qualifying seller. Complimenting the same is Walmart’s decision to launch new Deals Dashboard, which makes it easy for sellers to enroll items in Walmart’s popular deals events. On top of that, the feature provides sellers more data and insights so to help improve the quality of their offers, as well as make more deals available to customers.
“We’re executing strategic priorities at Walmart that are helping us to become the customers’ first choice – every day, every season, for every item. Walmart Marketplace is a key component of that mission,” said Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer at Walmart U.S. “We know the importance of personalized, seamless omnichannel experiences, and Walmart continues to advance its digital and fulfillment capabilities, including the new categories and features we announced today, that enhance the overall customer and seller experience on Walmart.com.”
