Walmart unveiled new AI-powered tools and incentives for sellers at its Let’s Grow! Marketplace Seller Summit in San Diego this week. It also announced news related to fulfillment and brand protection and provided new information about its Seller Advisors program.
Walmart said its AI-powered tools simplify sellers’ operations, save time, and increase sales and have been shaped by feedback from sellers. To access the AI tools, sellers must be logged in to the Walmart Marketplace ecosystem (details can be found on the Walmart website). It’s also providing sellers with access to customer support through a Smart Assistant AI Agent.
Additionally, Walmart announced the following:
- Sellers who self-fulfill can automate delivery promises by region, offering customers more delivery promises.
- Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) now lets sellers offer expanded Next-Day Delivery coverage across top US cities.
- Brand Portal protect brands and flags fraudulent activity with an enhanced focus on product authenticity.
The Walmart Seller Advisors Program opened to 300 sellers last year, spanning categories, regions and business sizes, and provides a direct line of feedback to Walmart leaders. “Their feedback and insights help co-create impactful programs and solutions, fostering marketplace integrity and a healthy business ecosystem.”
A spokesperson told us any seller can apply to join the Seller Advisors program, and once a part of the program, seller participation varies, from focus group to product testing.
Walmart also announced a way for third-party sellers to reach customers by blending the digital and physical shopping experience:
“In-Store Digital Discovery: In April, Walmart opened its new Cypress, Texas, location, which features digital QR codes throughout the store. These codes allow customers to access digital tools, services and an extended online assortment. Walmart is bringing the extended Marketplace aisle into stores, starting with a few items on display. Customers can purchase through the Walmart app and have their items professionally installed.”
Walmart also told attendees of the seller summit about new incentives (we wrote about some of them earlier this month) designed to help sellers compete during the peak shopping season, including the following:
- 0% referral fee on all qualifying toys
- 50% referral fee reduction on all qualifying pet supplies
- Up to 100% referral fee reductions on qualifying top-selling items across categories
Read more about this week’s announcements from Walmart’s Let’s Grow Marketplace Seller Summit on the Walmart website.