In an interesting move, Walmart announced that it will be testing out a new delivery method for e-commerce sales. Walmart wants to utilize its current workforce by having store associates make deliveries on their way home from work.
The reason is simple, Retail Wire points out that almost 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart, and although numbers haven’t been shared it’s likely similarly high in Canada.
Store associates have the ability to sign up for specific packages and take them to the waiting customer on their way home for work. The service rendered by the store associate will earn them a couple extra bucks and decrease Walmart’s e-commerce division logistical costs.
The concept called Walmart “Last Mile” is being tested at three stores in the U.S., but industry insiders point out a slew of concerns. Is the employee responsible if something happens to the package? How will employees be trained to deal with weird customer interactions, do employees even want to do this?
All are valid questions. Although there is the incentive of extra pay, it’s still an employee who after a long of work now has to go make an extra delivery.
What do you guys think? Good Idea or Bad Idea?
Source: Retail Wire