Walmart continues streamlining mobile shopping experience

Walmart is not sitting back after unifying its grocery and general shopping apps.

The discount giant, which combined the functionality of its grocery and Walmart apps in March, is further expanding the new app’s capabilities as usage soars during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walmart reports that 50% of all online grocery orders are coming from the new mobile experience. In addition, there has been an uptick in those customers ordering general merchandise items as they shop for grocery items.

Since upgrading its app, Walmart has added hundreds of thousands of new slots for online grocery pickup, as well as added additional information and notifications via app, email and text message regarding pickup and delivery. Seniors, first responders and those with underlying medical conditions can identify and reserve "at-risk only" time slots.

In addition, customers can reserve a no-contact pickup or delivery time or, where available, leverage Walmart’s new express delivery service to have items delivered to their doors in less than two hours.

Other features include using the app to refill prescriptions, including drive-thru. Exclusively in the app, prescription customers can select “curbside pickup” or select a mail delivery option. Customers can also make touch-free payments at any Walmart register using Walmart Pay from the app. 

“The Walmart app will enable all customers to take advantage of the new experience,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer, Walmart, in a corporate blog post. “To do this is no easy feat – our technology team has been testing and iterating around the clock to bring these two apps together. And, having just one app allows us to create more seamless customer experiences now and in the future.”