BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Executives at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. are pleased with the ways the Bentonville-based retailer is using technology to deepen its relationships with customers.
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| Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart |
“We are pleased with our e-commerce operating system and happy to have our new e-commerce fulfillment centers operational,” Doug McMillon, president and CEO, said during a May 19 conference call with analysts. “Those are necessary building blocks. I’m excited about the ways we are using technology to deepen our relationship with customers and help them save both money and time. Our grocery pick-up service in the US continues to receive high marks from customers, and we are continuing to expand it.”
McMillon said Walmart plans to introduce grocery pick-up in nine new markets, bringing its total market coverage to nearly 40 by the end of May, up from 22 markets at the beginning of the year.
Two other technologies — the Walmart app and Wal-Mart Pay — are enhancing the customer experience as well, McMillon said.
“The Walmart app is allowing us to serve customers in convenient ways, whether it is by finding an item in store, researching a product or refilling a prescription,” he said. “Wal-Mart Pay is enhancing our ability to provide a seamless shopping experience as customers quickly pay with their phone. A few weeks ago we began to expand this service nationwide, and we are on schedule to complete the roll-out by the end of June.”
Net income at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in the first quarter ended April 30 was $3.08 billion, equal to 98 cents per share on the common stock, down 8 percent from $3.34 billion, or $1.03 per share, in the same period a year ago. Net sales increased 0.9 percent to $115.90 billion from $114.83 billion.
