Walmart and HomeValet pilot smart coolers for grocery deliveries

Walmart has announced that it will be testing out grocery deliveries using a HomeValet’s smart box to keep food fresh outside of customer’s homes.

From this spring, participating customers in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be able to receive deliveries from their local Walmart directly in a temperature-controlled HomeValet-powered smart box placed outside their home.

As a result, Walmart says customers will have the ability to receive secure, contactless deliveries and will know their grocery items will stay fresh whether they are home or not.

Powered by an internet of things (IoT) platform, HomeValet’s smart box has three temperature-controlled zones, ensuring it can properly store frozen, refrigerated and pantry items.

When it is time for a delivery to be made, the smart box also communicates with the delivery provider’s device, giving them secure access to the smart box to complete the delivery.

Walmart says the solution presents the retailer an opportunity to deliver items 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The US retail corporation launched its grocery delivery service in 2018, and it aims to continue to find new ways to serve customers.

Last year, the company announced that its automated system Alphabot was fully operational to enable more efficient order picking and was ready for a wider roll out.