Walmart is to pilot an automated micro-fulfilment centre system based on technology from Symbotic within one of its superstore’s backroom at an undisclosed location. The prototype will be operational in a few months with a second site reportedly in the pipeline. So far, Walmart is running its existing micro-fulfilment centre with technology either from Alert Innovation / Alphabot, Dematic or Fabric.
The new pilot builds upon a long-standing technology relationship between Walmart and Symbotic. The automation technology provider has supplied automation technology to Walmart’s regional distribution centres for several years. It culminated in early 2025 when Symbotic acquired Walmart’s internal advanced systems and robotics division.
As part of that transaction, Walmart entered into a conditional commitment to purchase some 400 back-of-store automated systems, subject to the technology meeting defined performance metrics. The current superstore installation represents the first in-field iteration. It serves as a live proving ground before potential chain-wide deployment over the next couple of years.
Micro-Fulfilment at Scale
Symbotic’s new solution, dubbed Sym Micro, intends to bring industrial-grade automation into a compact store footprint. The trial aligns with the American retail giant’s broader omnichannel strategy which tries to leverage physical superstores as hyper-local fulfilment hubs in a bid to boost efficiency across click-and-collect services and last-mile delivery.
The Sym Micro solution is built around high-density automated racking. Symbotic’s autonomous mobile robots navigate the grid to retrieve storage totes, conveying them directly to an operator picking station. According to manufacturer, the system delivers up to an advertised 550 picks per hour per station, a fivefold productivity increase compared to standard manual store-aisle picking.
