Co-op says it will work with Walmart’s Commerce Technologies division to launch Store Assist, an online fulfillment solution. The partnership with the major US retailer is part of the convenience store’s strategy to increase customer satisfaction and drive rapid expansion of retail channels.
Online order fulfillment is digitized and made more efficient with Walmart Commerce Technologies’ Store Assist solution. The app enables businesses to fulfill orders for pickup, ship-from-store, third-party marketplaces, and last-mile delivery in one place. Faster delivery times, improved in-store processes and operations, and eliminating the need for staff to constantly switch between quick commerce apps and devices are all benefits of this optimized multimodal fulfillment workflow.
Walmart and Co-op have teamed up to expand their online grocery offerings
To improve the convenience store’s employee and customer experience and support its goals of rapid commerce expansion, Co-op is gearing up to partner with Walmart Commerce Technologies and adopt its online fulfillment system, Store Assist. Retailers can use the Store Assist app to handle pickup, ship from store, last-mile delivery and orders from third-party marketplaces in one place. A more efficient omnichannel fulfillment workflow, stakeholders say, would improve in-store processes and operations, eliminate the need for employees to switch between quick commerce apps or other devices and enable faster delivery times.
Online orders are assembled fresh at the local Co-op store and delivered quickly and conveniently throughout the community. Store Assist technology focuses on ease of use, scalability and specific and tailored use to meet the diverse needs of grocery delivery, as well as a unified platform to simplify systems.
Co-op partners with Walmart Commerce Technologies
The co-op will use Walmart Commerce Technologies’ Store Assist online fulfillment system. The app allows businesses to process orders for pickup, ship from store, third-party marketplaces and last-mile delivery in one place. Associates no longer need to switch between quick commerce apps or devices, reducing delivery times, and the streamlined omnichannel fulfillment workflow improves store operations and processes.
The store support technology focuses on scalability, ease of use and tailored applications to meet the diverse needs of grocery delivery. It also provides a single platform to streamline online purchasing processes. Walmart stores also benefit from this. The solution further supports Co-op’s goal of capturing more than a third of the rapid commerce industry.
With a focus on scalability and ease of use, Store Assist technology is designed to meet the diverse needs of supermarket fulfilment by providing a single platform that streamlines processes, while online purchases are collected from nearby Co-ops and delivered quickly to customers. With its rapid expansion, the Co-op believes that over 80% of the UK population will now be able to access its grocery offering through its own online store or its delivery partners, which include Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo. The convenience store operator has stated its intention to hold a third of the q-commerce sector.
Features of this partnership
By partnering with Walmart Commerce Technologies, Co-op hopes to enhance its online fulfillment capabilities through the launch of Store Assist. Retailers can easily handle multiple fulfillment methods thanks to this technology, which is designed to digitize and streamline various online ordering processes.
- Store Assist combines orders for last-mile delivery, ship from store, pickup, and third-party marketplaces into a single interface. Managing multiple fulfillment channels can be complicated, but our consolidated method streamlines processes and reduces that complexity.
- By eliminating the need for employees to switch between multiple QComm apps or devices, the system is designed to increase efficiency in the store. This feature ensures smoother operations by reducing errors and saving time.
- By optimizing order fulfillment processes, Store Assist can dramatically reduce delivery times, giving the company a critical competitive advantage in the QComm market.
Co-op’s online growth strategy
- Co-op’s growth strategy focuses on collaborating with key partners and improving its own online store. This two-pronged strategy allows companies to enter the market efficiently while maintaining control over their brand and the customer experience.
- One of the main pillars of Co-op’s business strategy is its reliance on local stores. These stores, located in the city centre, are perfect for quick business as they can offer fast delivery services. This tailored strategy improves delivery times whilst strengthening the store’s connection to local stores.
- By improving efficiency and making the shopping process more intuitive, the collaboration with Walmart Commerce Technologies aims to improve the customer experience. To ensure the new technology meets the expectations of its consumers and members, Co-op, a member-owned cooperative, places great importance on convenience and reliability.
My opinion on this partnership
The growth of convenience retail has reached a turning point with the partnership between Co-op and Walmart Commerce Technologies. By implementing Store Assist, Co-op hopes to transform its fulfillment processes and provide faster, more reliable services to its customers.
This initiative is in line with the rising trend of accelerated commerce and sets a standard for other retailers looking to improve their customer service and operational efficiency. Future technological developments coupled with changing consumer expectations could lead to growth in the QComm sector. Retailers in this dynamic and fast-changing market that embrace these changes and maintain operational agility are likely to emerge as market leaders.
Niamh Prescott has a degree in Mass Communication and an MBA in Finance. She has worked for two media companies and now runs her own media company.
