Walmart GoLocal delivery service partners with air cargo platform
Walmart is expanding its ability to perform next- and two-day deliveries by increasing its air freight capacity.
The discounter, which launched GoLocal as a hosted white-label, delivery-as-a-service platform to manage last-mile deliveries in 2021, is teaming up with SmartKargo, which works with airlines to enable an alternate delivery network to established carriers. The solution provides two-day and next-day small package transportation options.
SmartKargo partners with what it calls a "major U.S. domestic airline" to provide over 2,500 flights daily, allowing companies across the U.S. to move packages coast-to-coast in two days and next-day ,with no need to utilize multiple distribution centers..
“Walmart GoLocal offers flexible, reliable local delivery solutions for retailers to help them meet and exceed customer expectations,” said Eliza Wendel, senior director and head of sales and business development at Walmart GoLocal. “With SmartKargo, we have an exciting opportunity to accelerate how retailers and e-commerce companies get inventory from their fulfillment centers to customers’ doorsteps and enable reliable next- and two-day delivery,”
"Walmart GoLocal is a perfect fit for the value of our solution,” said Prasanna Gogwekar, COO at SmartKargo. “We enable organizations to avoid building additional warehouse space and provide next- and two-day time and transit across the country through leveraging Walmart GoLocal’s local delivery solutions and retail and logistics expertise. We look forward to growing with the Walmart GoLocal team and bringing airlines into global eCommerce at the speed of flight.”
Walmart GoLocal -a primer
Designed to take on the likes of Instacart and DoorDash, Walmart GoLocal delivers goods to customers of other businesses. The managed service platform provides nationwide delivery capabilities on a range of products, including those with size and complex requirements, as well as the flexibility to meet varying timelines.
The discount giant built the service on the existing infrastructure supporting the Express Delivery same-day delivery service it rolled out in 2020. This includes drones, autonomous vehicles and market fulfillment centers.
Walmart said at the time of launch it planned to rapidly expand GoLocal to offer additional services. So far, these have included a partnership with e-commerce platform provider Cogentry Labs to provide an integrated white-label, turnkey e-commerce delivery solution to mid-sized and independent grocery retailers; as well as a collaboration with Delivery Solutions as a last-mile delivery service provider.
Walmart’s initial GoLocal managed delivery partner was home improvement giant The Home Depot. Specialty apparel retailer Chico’s FAS has also partnered with Walmart GoLocal, as has Books-A-Million, the nation's second-largest bookstore chain.