Think R2D2, Walmart wrote in a press release. Others are thinking layoffs.
Walmart plans to soon add more than 3,900 robots to stores across the U.S.
The robots will perform tasks like scanning products, sorting shipments, cleaning floors and readying online purchases for pickup.
Walmart says the robots will free up time for employees to help customers, while critics say its a long-term move toward replacing human workers.
Walmart is adding thousands of new robots to stores across the U.S., a move that comes as retailers struggle to attract and retain workers amid record-low unemployment rates.
The mammoth retailer plans to bring more than 3,900 robots to U.S. stores to perform a variety of "repeatable, predictable" tasks.
"Our associates immediately understood the opportunity for the new technology to free them up from focusing on tasks that are repeatable, predictable and manual," said John Crecelius, senior vice president of Central Operations for Walmart U.S., in a press release. "It allows them time to focus more on selling merchandise and serving customers, which they tell us have always been the most exciting parts of working in retail."
The new robots will include about 300 "Auto-S" shelf scanners, 1,500 "Auto-C" floor cleaners, 900 "Pickup" towers, and 1,200 "FAST Unloaders," used to help employees unload and sort products from trucks.
https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/walmart-robots?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
Walmart plans to soon add more than 3,900 robots to stores across the U.S.
The robots will perform tasks like scanning products, sorting shipments, cleaning floors and readying online purchases for pickup.
Walmart says the robots will free up time for employees to help customers, while critics say its a long-term move toward replacing human workers.
Walmart is adding thousands of new robots to stores across the U.S., a move that comes as retailers struggle to attract and retain workers amid record-low unemployment rates.
The mammoth retailer plans to bring more than 3,900 robots to U.S. stores to perform a variety of "repeatable, predictable" tasks.
"Our associates immediately understood the opportunity for the new technology to free them up from focusing on tasks that are repeatable, predictable and manual," said John Crecelius, senior vice president of Central Operations for Walmart U.S., in a press release. "It allows them time to focus more on selling merchandise and serving customers, which they tell us have always been the most exciting parts of working in retail."
The new robots will include about 300 "Auto-S" shelf scanners, 1,500 "Auto-C" floor cleaners, 900 "Pickup" towers, and 1,200 "FAST Unloaders," used to help employees unload and sort products from trucks.
https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/walmart-robots?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
