Walmart partners with tech company in new initiative to improve their produce – & it could mean perfect-tasting berries
WALMART announced a partnership with a tech company to improve its produce in an effort to give customers the best-tasting berries.
The retail giant is working with Agritask, a crop supply intelligence company, in collaboration with the Sparkcubate program.
GettyWalmart announced a new partnership that could bring fresh produce year-round[/caption]
GettyThe retailer is working with tech company Agritask to find farming solutions for the best tasting berries and cherries[/caption]
The company is hoping to make more well-informed decisions regarding seasonal fruit crop yields such as cherries and blackberries.
Agritask aims to reduce food waste and guarantee fresh produce for shoppers.
Depending on the results of the pilot, Walmart may consider using Agritask again in the future.
“The pilot will deploy Agritask’s remote sensing and data analytics tools in various regions in the US and Mexico to provide real-time, hyperlocal insights on seasonal blackberry and cherry crops from select Walmart suppliers,” Walmart said in a press release.
The crops were chosen because they have a high sensitivity to changes in temperature and moisture levels.
These factors can affect their growth, quality, transport, and shelf life.
Using real-time monitoring, the collaboration will give quick responses to unfavorable environmental conditions to manage supplies and overall enhance the quality of the produce.
Some key examples include:
Immediate alerts on possible risks and their potential harm on target crops, such as an unexpected cold front
Real-time assessment of timing, delays, or advances in an expected harvest
Updated indications on meeting yield targets throughout the growing season
“Dealing with challenges in purchasing and planning accuracy in agriculture due to data discrepancies and environmental uncertainties can be tough,” said Kyle Carlyle, vice president of sourcing innovation and surety of supply at Walmart.
“Agritask’s technology has the potential to fill vital information gaps that sourcing managers often face when predicting yield.
“Teaming up with Agritask enables Walmart to delve into more streamlined and sustainable sourcing practices, ensuring we consistently deliver fresh, high-quality products to meet customer demand.”
Agritask’s CEO, Ofir Ardon, called Walmart the ideal partner for their tech solutions due to the retailer’s global scale and “commitment to strengthening sustainable supply chains.”
“We are thrilled to have Walmart become the first retail partner to integrate Yield Intelligence, adopting our data-driven innovation built on 15 years of optimizing agricultural supply chains to reshape how enterprises collaborate with suppliers,” he said.
“Together, we are uniquely positioned to implement scalable, climate-smart, and risk-ready solutions that optimize sourcing from the ground up.”
Walmart described its partnership with Agritask as its latest initiative in a long-term commitment to using technology for a ” sustainable and resilient supply chain.”
WAL-SMART
Recently, the retailer announced plans for a new pricing policy that would replace paper tags with more digitally savvy ones.
The digital labels will be rolled out to around 1,400 of its 2,300 stores, and the retailer hopes to have them in all stores by 2026.
Digital price tags
Digital price tags, or electronic shelf labels, were first used in stores in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Kohl’s first rolled out digital price tags in 2013 as part of its effort to modernize and enhance the shopping experience.
Other retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Nordstrom, and Macy’s have similarly utilized digital price tags.
The tags allow for real-time updates of prices, promotions, and product information.
The change represents a significant shift in how I, and other store associates, manage pricing, inventory, order fulfillment, and customer interactions, ensuring our customers enjoy an even better shopping experience,” said Daniela Boscan, a Walmart employee who took part in testing the technology at a Walmart in Grapevine, Texas, in a news release.
However, the retailer said it wouldn’t use the shift to spike the prices of goods, CBS reported.
Dynamic pricing is often used by other retailers when a price changes abruptly due to weather, traffic, or other factors.
“I do not think we will see Walmart introduce dynamic pricing anytime soon,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData’s retail division.
“A lot of shoppers use Walmart because it has low prices, and Walmart has worked very hard to establish trust with the customer.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Walmart for comment.
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