There’s another sign that Walmart is becoming increasingly committed to drone delivery. Walmart is offering drone delivery at a small number of its stores (mainly in Texas), but it hasn’t always been the most intuitive for customers. A big Walmart app update has changed that.
Until recently, Walmart shoppers had to order through a separate app because the company preferred to receive orders via drone. Walmart has partnerships with several drone delivery companies, including DroneUp, Flytrex, and Zipline. Things really leveled off in August 2023, when Walmart added Wing as a drone delivery provider.
However, customers ordering Walmart products will have to do so through the drone delivery company’s app, despite the fact that orders must be in the Walmart app for pickup or car delivery.
However, starting in June 2024, Walmart is rolling out steps to transition customers to be able to order directly from the Walmart app. This is being done in a phased approach, so currently only a small number of stores are offering drone delivery directly from the Walmart app. But once fully rolled out, it should remove the friction for shoppers of having to download and log in to an entirely separate app to engage with drone deliveries.
“We’re enhancing the customer experience and further streamlining the process by integrating this into the Walmart app, where customers already go for their other shopping needs,” said Walmart spokesperson Lindsey Coulter. “Customers can open the Walmart app, see which items are eligible for drone delivery, create a basket, and pay,” she said. All this is possible with just a few clicks.”
Beyond a more streamlined experience, the integration also expands the catalog of deliverable products.
How to order through the Walmart app
Customers who currently use one of Walmart’s drone delivery partners and order through their app will receive a notification when the new ordering feature is released through the Walmart app. (Eligibility is based on the customer address associated with the account.)
Like the Wing app, you can see where your orders are and stay updated with their arrival times in real time.
The ability to order drone deliveries directly through the Walmart app is scheduled to launch in June 2024, but Walmart emphasizes that this will happen in stages.
According to a press release from Walmart, “Creating a more seamless shopping experience on the Walmart app is the next advancement in Walmart’s investment in drone delivery technology and further reaffirms our unwavering commitment to finding innovative experiences and delivery solutions for our customers.” .” he said.
Walmart’s Drone Delivery Service: How’s It Going?
Walmart operates delivery operations in more than six states in the U.S., including Arkansas (the state where Walmart’s headquarters are located) and Texas. Texas has been one of the biggest growth drivers for Walmart drone deliveries. In fact, about 75% of the population of Dallas-Fort Worth is now eligible for drone delivery.
For example, as of June 2024, Wing (Google’s sibling company) supports drone delivery at the following stores:
- 9101 N Tarrant Pkwy, North Richland Hills, TX
- 6401 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX
- 801 W Main St, Lewisville, TX
- 8555 Preston Rd, Frisco, TX
Walmart has had fun with its drone delivery project, as evidenced by a hilariously comical social media stunt from August 2023. That’s when Walmart dropped a giant Oreo cookie into milk via drone.
So far, drone delivery has yielded good results for Walmart and its customers.
“The community has been very receptive to the adoption of drone delivery, and we are confident that enthusiasm will continue as we improve the customer experience,” Coulter said.
And the numbers back it up. Since Walmart began testing drone deliveries in 2021, Walmart and its drone delivery partners have made more than 30,000 total drone deliveries to date.
