Walmart's big plan to grow in-your-fridge grocery delivery in 2022
Talk about up-close-and-personal convenience.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart is taking grocery delivery to the next level by scaling its InHome service from being available to 6 million to 30 million U.S. households by the end of 2022, according to the company's news release.
To support this expansion, Walmart plans to hire more than 3,000 associate delivery drivers and build out a fleet of 100% electric-run delivery vans.
“We’ve been operating InHome in select markets over the last two years and have found it is a perfect solution for customers who want to live their lives without worrying about making it to the store or being home to accept a delivery,” Tom Ward, senior vice president, last mile, said in the release.
Launched in 2019, Walmart’s InHome delivery service is for time-strapped families. Associates deliver fresh groceries and other essentials directly into customers’ homes, including placing items straight into their kitchens or garage refrigerators, as well as picking up Walmart.com returns.
Here’s how it works:
- Order: Once signed up for InHome, a customer places their order on the Walmart app and selects "InHome" as their preferred delivery option;
- Security Tech: When arriving at the customer’s home, the associate uses a one-time access code to unlock the customer’s door or garage through the InHome app, which pairs with smart entry technology. The app notifies the customer at every step and a camera, worn on the associates’ vest, records the entire delivery, which customers have access to from their phones for up to a week after each delivery; and
- Safety: Associates take appropriate safety measures, including wearing a mask, sanitizing surfaces and locking up.
Walmart’s InHome Delivery service is $19.95 per month or $148 per year, with no additional fees, including tips, which are built into the membership price. Customers can extend one-time access to their InHome associate using an existing smart lock, a garage keypad, or by purchasing a new smart lock from InHome for $49.95.
Using electric vehicles for the delivery drivers supports the retailer’s goal of operating a zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040, but it's also a step in Walmart’s growing infrastructure of 1,396 electric-vehicle charging stations at stores and clubs across 41 states, according to the release.
The associate-delivery driver role is a new, full-time position, employed by Walmart and offered an extra $1.50/hour from most current store roles, a pay differential designed to attract top talent. Associates will qualify for the retailer’s benefits plans, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401k matching, paid time off, no-cost counseling and access to a free college degree, with Walmart paying for 100% of tuition and books through its Live Better U program.
“This new role is yet another example of how technology is enabling us to offer new career opportunities that just didn’t exist a few years ago,” Julie Murphy, Walmart U.S. executive vice president and chief people officer, said in the release.
InHome delivery is the newest delivery option to be scaled to Walmart customers, part of the retailer’s last-mile delivery strategy, which includes creating a low-cost last-mile delivery network focused on density, speed and sustainability.
Walmart also offers delivery and Express delivery on 160,000-plus items from more than 3,400 Walmart stores, reaching 70% of the U.S. population, according to the release. Also, the retailer is trialing sustainable and innovative delivery solutions, like drones and self-driving cars.
More recently, Walmart began commercializing its nationwide delivery capabilities through Walmart GoLocal, a white-label delivery as a service business focused on providing third-party retailers and brands an affordable local delivery solution.
