Walmart and Google team up for voice shopping

US retailer Walmart and internet giant Google have teamed up to offer voice-enabled shopping and delivery services. Starting from late September, shoppers will be able to buy items from Walmart using their voice with the Assistant on Google Home or on the Google Express website or app.

Deliveries will be made through the Google Express system. From next year, shoppers will also be able to pick up an order from a Walmart store.

Walmart has also integrated its “Easy Reorder” feature into the Google Express – so shoppers can build up a basket of previously-purchased items.

In a blog posted today (23 August), Marc Lore, President and CEO, Walmart U.S. eCommerce, said: “When it comes to voice shopping, we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers. That’s why it makes sense for us to team up with Google. They’ve made significant investments in natural language processing and artificial intelligence to deliver a powerful voice shopping experience. We know this means being compared side-by-side with other retailers, and we think that’s the way it should be. An open and transparent shopping universe is good for customers.

“Our new voice shopping capability, coupled with our core value proposition, including free two-day shipping and the Pickup Discount, will give our customers a compelling new way to get what they need at low prices. We will continue to focus on creating new opportunities to simplify people’s lives and help them shop in ways they’ve not yet imagined.”

Google also hailed the partnership in a blog on its platform, posted Sridhar Ramaswamy, Google’s Senior Vice President Ads & Commerce.

In addition, Ramaswamy announced that Google was looking to offer both “free and fast delivery” with the Express Service.

“Starting today,” said Ramaswamy, “we’re offering free delivery on Google Express as long as your order is above each store’s minimum. There’s no membership required so no matter how you shop—through voice with your Google Assistant or on the website or mobile app—you’ll get free delivery within one to three days.”