Walmart takes big step as tech platform; partners with Adobe

Walmart, a retail technology innovator, will begin selling several of its own e-commerce technologies and capabilities to other retail businesses.

As part of the effort, Walmart announced a strategic partnership with Adobe to integrate the Walmart Marketplace third-party e-commerce platform, as well as the chain's proprietary online and in-store fulfillment and pickup technologies, with Adobe Commerce. The deal will allow participating small to mid-sized retailers to use some of the same tools that Walmart uses to run its business.

 “We’ve built new capabilities to serve the evolving needs of our own customers, and we have a unique opportunity to use our experience to help other businesses do the same,” said John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S. “Commercializing our technologies and capabilities helps us sustainably reinvest back into our customer value proposition.”

[Read more: Walmart to redesign nearly 1,000 stores]

Through the Adobe Commerce platform, retail businesses will be able to use Walmart’s proprietary cloud-based services to offer seamless pickup and delivery to their customers. Businesses will be able to reach new customers on Walmart’s Marketplace, where they can leverage Walmart’s fulfillment services to offer two-day shipping nationwide. Adobe will sell the software through a subscription. Pricing details will be announced at a future date.

More information on the Walmart-Adobe partnership is available here.

“The core mission of helping people save money and live better is at the heart of every idea including scan & go and checkout technologies, AI-powered smart substitutions and pickup and delivery,” said Suresh Kumar, CTO and chief development officer of Walmart Inc. “Combining Adobe’s strength in powering commerce experiences with our unmatched omni-customer expertise, we can accelerate other companies’ digital transformations.

This is the first time Walmart has made its retail technologies available to other businesses. Adobe’s retail customers in the U.S. will be able to integrate Walmart’s technologies in their own storefronts starting in early 2022. 

“We’re excited to collaborate with Walmart to help Adobe merchants expand their businesses to new channels and offer shopping experiences that increase their competitiveness and fit well with shifting consumer behaviors in an increasingly digital economy,” said Anil Chakravarthy, executive VP and general manager, digital experience business and worldwide field operations at Adobe.

Walmart Inc. operates approximately 10,500 stores and warehouse club locations under 48 banners in 24 countries and e-commerce websites.