Walmart's Doug McMillon and Suresh Kumar Discuss the Future of Retail


Wed. January 10th, 2024 - by Anne Allen

BENTONVILLE, AR - Discussions of the future always seem to take place at the beginning of the year; New Year’s resolutions swirl, and companies feel the itch to change up operations. No one is safe from the proverbial bug, including Walmart. Bitten by the promise of the future, the retailer unveiled several technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that speak to the overarching future of retail.

Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart
Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart

“We build technology to serve people and not the other way around,” said Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Walmart’s purpose is to help people live better, and today, more than ever, advances in technology make it feel like anything is possible. Our technology roadmap is compelling and we’re very excited about it, but we’re clear that we are a people-led, tech-powered company. People, our customers, and associates, come first, and we’ll put technology to work to serve them better than ever.”

According to a press release, the company outlined its plan for ongoing innovation; specifically, how the technology it builds will benefit customers and members.

Walmart recently unveiled several technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that speak to the overarching future of retail
Walmart recently unveiled several technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that speak to the overarching future of retail

At CES, Walmart unveiled how some of the latest technologies will enable the retailer to deliver a new type of commerce—one that is customer-centric, interconnected, frictionless, and consistently exceeds expectations. These include technologies such as AI, GenAI, and AR.

As the company went on to note, adaptive retail is not limited to search and discovery; it’s about creating personalized, seamless, and flexible shopping experiences from start to finish.

Suresh Kumar, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer, Walmart
Suresh Kumar, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer, Walmart

“While omnichannel retail has been around for decades, this new type of retail—adaptive retail—takes it a step further,” said Suresh Kumar, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer. “It’s retail that is not only e-commerce or in-store, but a single, unified retail experience that seamlessly blends the best aspects of all channels. And for Walmart, adaptive retail is rooted in a clear focus on people.”

To learn more about how Walmart plans to bring the future to the retail sector, click here.

As always, ANUK will continue to deliver the latest in retail news.