Major Retailers Eye Future, E-Commerce
By Hannah Ash, contributing writer
New Homes In Silicon Valley For World’s Largest Retailer
Some retailers try to keep up with the competition while other retailers attempt to crush it. The world’s leading retailer has not only welcomed but is at the forefront of retail’s omni-channel revolution. Walmart has staked out a strong Silicon Valley presence, the part of the San Francisco Bay Area best known for innovations in technology. In February, the retail giant opened its second Silicon Valley hub: the new technology center is located in Sunnyvale, CA. The Sunnyvale center joins Walmart’s first stake in Silicon Valley: @Walmart Labs, located in San Bruno.
“We are clearly going to be investing in technology, no doubt about it. Whether it's acquisition or our own capabilities," states CEO Mike Duke. "We have acquired talent, the best talent in the world, the smartest talent in Silicon Valley, so we will invest in areas of technologies." The Walmart e-commerce center, in Sunnyvale, is focused on shaping and building the retailer’s future, “At Walmart eCommerce, we are not just building products — we are building the next generation Walmart.” San Bruno’s @Walmart Labs, which opened in 2011, is focused on omni-channel innovations: the website claims it is “an accelerator in the effort to meet the needs of our customers wherever they are — shopping in a store, browsing our website, or out and about with their mobile devices.”
Read The Omni-Channel Opportunity For Retailers
In addition to its Silicon Valley home bases, Walmart has other technology centers located throughout the world: India; Brazil; Oregon. Carol Spiekerman, CEO of NewMarket Builders, observed “retailers are once again becoming decentralized, only this time their satellite offices aren’t focused on regional buying as they have been in the past, but on developing digital and social shopping specialization.” Target Corp. also has an e-commerce office in the Bay Area while Home Depot, Staples and Nordstrom all have e-commerce labs around the country. Walmart’s decision to invest in e-commerce appears to be a sound one, “Our online websites had their most successful year in fiscal 2014, and we continue to offer a great omni-channel experience for our customers,” says Charles Holley, CFO at Walmart. When the world’s largest retailer takes up residence in high-tech Silicon Valley, it’s worthwhile to stop and take notice. CEO Mike Duke appears to have glimpsed into retail’s future — and, it’s omni-channel.