Walmart vs. Amazon: Supermarket chain announces Google online
'24.08.2017'
Source: Associated Press
Walmart immersed in voice shopping. But unlike the online leader Amazon, the supermarket chain does not do it alone.
The world's largest retailer announced on Wednesday, August 23, the beginning of work with Google. Walmart intends to offer hundreds of thousands of products, from laundry detergent to Legosfor voice purchase via Google Assistant, transmits Associated Press.
This feature will be available from the end of September.
For Google this is the largest retail partnership and the most personalized shopping that he offers as he tries to expand access to voice assistants Home speaker. Walmart also seeks to compete in the area dominated by the device Echo from Amazon and service assistant Amazon Alexa.
“Voice shopping is becoming a more important part of everyday shopping,” says Marc Loret, CEO, E-Commerce Walmart.
Voice devices are becoming increasingly popular due to the increasing availability. AT Walmart stated that investment Google in natural language processing and artificial intelligence will help increase the popularity of voice purchases.
In February, the company Google presented shopping to Homeallowing people to use voice services for more than 40 retailers such as Target и Costcowithin the program Google Express. But dominates this area Echo, available from the end of 2014.
Walmartwhich has more stores than any other retailer, and the largest share of the US food market, also makes every effort to close the online sales gap between themselves and Amazon.
В Walmart reviewed their delivery strategy and decided to expand the range for online stores. Also, the supermarket chain announced on Monday that it is expanding its product delivery service with car rental service. Uber. She tested same day shipping with Deliv в Sam's club in Miami.
To be more competitive with Amazon, Google Express refuses membership of $ 95 per year, starting on Wednesday, allowing buyers to receive free delivery of the order within one to three days if the purchase exceeds the minimum order of each store.
Walmart integrates the function Easy reorderwhich has data both in stores and on the Internet, in Google Express. Buyers who want to change the order of their favorites must link their account Walmart с Google Express.
According to Brian Elliott, general manager Google Express, personalization takes time, as the assistant learns the preferences of customers. Thus, fast personalization with Walmart should make voice purchases more attractive, he says.
