Walmart acquires robotic grocery automation tech company, Alert Innovation

Walmart signs deal to acquire e-grocery technology company, Alert Innovation, after a six-year pilot in which Alert customized automated robotic carts for Walmart fulfillment centers. Walmart purchases Alert as it boosts efforts to streamline e-commerce order fulfillment and alleviate constraints of a tight labor market.

“We are committed to exceeding customer expectations and serving them in new ways, whether it’s in a store, curbside or at their home. Bringing the best of Alert’s technology and capabilities in-house will enable us to reach more customers quicker by deploying market fulfillment centers with greater speed, providing both an unmatched shopping experience and a competitive advantage in omnichannel fulfillment,” David Guggina, senior vice president of innovation and automation of Walmart U.S., said in a news release.

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Alert’s automated fulfillment technologies use robots in temperature-controlled settings to fulfill grocery orders. Other projects by Altert Innovations include the Novastore an entire store that relies on Alphabot robotic systems embedded throughout the largely automated shopping experience. Alert Innovation will continue to operate under the Alert Innovation brand based in the Boston area.

“We will continue leveraging our development, manufacturing and deployment expertise to enable Walmart to build and scale market fulfillment center technology in its stores,” said Fritz Morgan, Altert Innovation CEO, in the release. “With Walmart, we have the opportunity to positively impact millions of lives through the Alphabot System.”