BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Walmart Inc. announced that it would increase its InHome delivery option from 6 million households to 30 million by the end of 2022.

As part of the expansion, the large retailer said it plans to hire more than 3,000 delivery drivers along with a fleet of all-electric delivery vans by the technology company BrightDrop. 

“We’ve been operating InHome in select markets over the last two years and have found it is a perfect solution for customers who want to live their lives without worrying about making it to the store or being home to accept a delivery,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president, last mile at Walmart US “Identifying ways to help our customers save time and money is our purpose, and nothing showcases that better than InHome delivery, which is why we’re excited to bring the convenience of InHome to even more customers in 2022.”

Walmart started its InHome delivery service in 2019, which allowed delivery drivers to place grocery items right into customers’ homes and even place them into kitchens or garage refrigerators.

After arriving, delivery drivers receive a one-time access code to unlock the home through the Walmart InHome app. Notifications are sent to the customer at every step. A camera is worn on the driver’s vest and records the entire delivery. Customers also have access to the footage from their phones for up to a week following the delivery.

Walmart said InHome drivers are employed by the company and will go through training to prepare for the delivery position.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Walmart started working on a variety of in-home options. In September 2017, the company tested the in-home concept using Deliv, a same-day delivery service.

In the spring of 2021, Walmart also introduced a temperature-controlled smart box that preserves perishable items on customers’ doorsteps.

Walmart’s InHome Delivery service is $19.95 per month or $148 per year, with no additional fees. Customers can offer one-time access to their InHome associate using an existing smart lock, a garage keypad, or by purchasing a new smart lock from InHome for $49.95.