Walmart couriers deliver groceries directly to smart refrigerators

The retail giant will try out grocery delivery directly to a “smart” refrigerator installed near customers’ homes.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a surge in demand for contactless delivery methods for various goods, especially food. Naturally, sales companies are now actively searching for the most convenient and safe ways. As a result, more and more original solutions are being created.

Walmart has long been engaged in delivering food to customers’ doors. Couriers will place packages in a special refrigerator in front of the customer’s house. The device, developed by a startup HomeValet, mostly resembles an ordinary box that has some “smart” functions and automatically adjusts the temperature. The refrigerator has three compartments for different types of food, requiring different storage temperatures.

The idea is simple – the courier brings the ordered goods, puts them in the refrigerator, and leaves without contact with the customers. Moreover, the latter may not even be at home at all. In this case, one should not worry about the safety of the products left, even if it is hot outside. As Tom Ward, Walmart U.S. Senior Vice President of Customer Product, stated: “Customers don’t have to plan their day and wait when groceries will be delivered. It gives Walmart the ability to deliver 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

He added, however, that the company is not yet considering 24-hour delivery. Walmart intends to limit its testing of the new type of delivery to assess its prospects for the time being. The pilot project will launch in the spring of 2021 in Walmart’s hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas.

Photo credit: depostiphotos.com.