Walmart Gives Suppliers Eyes On Every Shelf | Fast Five Shorts

Walmart plans to equip supplier field reps with real time store level data via Scintilla in Store.

According to chainstorage, Walmart Data Ventures has launched Scintilla in Store, a mobile platform for supplier field representatives that unifies real time inventory data, actionable metrics, modular shelf information and supplier assigned tasks in a single app.

The platform builds on Walmart's Scintilla ecosystem, formerly Luminate, which was launched in 2021 and is a reimagined version of Volt's systems technology, which Walmart acquired in 2022.

Key capabilities include real time identification of items that are running low, the ability to correct inventory discrepancies from shelf shifts during busy periods, and planogram compliance checking, all from the field reps mobile device.

Future updates will include AI driven task prioritization and deeper integration across in store systems.

The Coca Cola company called it, quote, redefining our operations in Walmart stores.

End quote.

Wow.

Citing improved efficiency and data driven decision making.

Chris, what does Scintilla in Store say about Walmart's broader data strategy?

And should other retailers be watching this closely?

And to answer your question, I find this headline scintillating.

It is Scintilla Lating.

I think it's such a smart move from Walmart.

It is just so, so, so sharp.

I mean, you look at it, labor's getting more expensive, but the suppliers are out there and they want this data, they crave this data.

And if something isn't right on the shelf, the suppliers are going to deploy people to fix it quickly.

And I can give a personal example of this, a personal anecdote.

When I was running frozen food at Target, this was back in like 2008, 2009, we had this large number Bertoli frozen meals.

You guys, you ever eat Bertoli frozen meals?

Well, we had this huge reset.

They had just launched all these new products and for whatever reason, I don't remember what it was, but we set the planogram in reverse.

And so like all,ousand plus stores got the planogram in reverse and there was no way for Target to fix it because the way you do your big planogram resets is you get one shot at them.

Otherwise the labor goes to some other planogram reset and some other part of the store throughout the year.

And so I said to Unilever that runs Bertoli, I was like, we're stuck.

We can't do anything.

And they're like, we're going to fix it.

We're going to go in, we're going to Pay for it, we're going to get it fixed because it's that important to us.

And so this kind of idea unlocks that on a tremendous scale.

So basically Walmart has just unlocked a thousand Bertoli examples and shell fixes throughout their entire organization.

So, so that tells me that Walmart is very smart about their data strategy and buying into the idea that all boats rise with the tides in this new age of commerce.

And, and this is also even, and this is crazy, this is also even before I gets a hold of this.

Imagine what you can do when you unlock and share data like this and you create the tools with AI to make the process even more efficient.

So.

Got it.

I love this headline.

Yeah, I mean I think the thing, the other thing that was announced this week Chris, that supports this is Walmart's 72% grocery penetration right now in the US and that what you just described is going to be so critical to them continuing on that path path and making sure that they have the product when and where the customers are looking for them, when and where Walmart associates are pulling products.

Like if they don't have the data, they don't have this, the product in stock and it's not just in food.

I mean we, I talked to Denise in Candela yesterday and just hearing like the fashion that they're blowing through all the apparel like all of these categories within the store now having, you know, as you always say Chris, the same sheet of music to work off of and knowing exactly where, who to deploy and what sectors to fix and make sure that the product is in stock and on shelves for the growing number of Walmart customers.

I think like, like we've said everyone wins here.

Suppliers sell more things are more efficient at Walmart.

They stay in stock for new and returning customers and Contus customers at the end have continually great experiences shopping the brand.

So I, I applaud Walmart for, for yet another smart strategic operations move with this.

Yeah, the one caveat is it could unleash Pandora's box into the Walmart store.

Like you don't want to have all of your suppliers coming in all the time willy nilly trying to fix things and update planograms and you know, make sure everything's looking good.

So, so Walmart's going to have to think about that on the backside like in terms of how do you control this, how do you put processes around it to manage it?

You know, does everyone get this data or do you have to buy into it to you know, acquired it to a certain level and then get the permission to go in and take action on it.

Like, I'm sure Coke, who, you know, you cited in the headline, I'm sure they're one of the vendors that has that permission.

But, like, you know, does.

Does Joe Smo almond butter brand get that same permission?

I don't know, but you probably do want them in there, but you've got to.

Got to keep tight controls on that, too.