Walmart is expanding its InHome delivery to even more customers this year, while broadening its assortment of home goods and décor.
InHome Delivery
Walmart is now opening InHome delivery to 30 million households by the end of the year, up from 6 million. To support the expansion, the company plans to hire more than 3,000 associate delivery drivers this year and build out a fleet of 100 percent all-electric delivery vans.
“We’ve been operating InHome in select markets over the last two years and have found it is a perfect solution for customers who want to live their lives without worrying about making it to the store or being home to accept a delivery,” Tom Ward, senior vice president for last mile at Walmart U.S., said. “Identifying ways to help our customers save time and money is our purpose, and nothing showcases that better than InHome delivery, which is why we’re excited to bring the convenience of InHome to even more customers in 2022.”
Launched in 2019, Walmart’s InHome delivery service uses associates to deliver fresh groceries, everyday essentials and more directly into customers’ homes, including placing items straight into their kitchen or garage refrigerator, as well as picking up Walmart.com returns.
Once signed up for InHome, customers place their order on the Walmart App and select InHome as their preferred delivery option.
Upon arriving at the customer’s home, the associate uses a one-time access code to unlock the customer’s door or garage through the InHome app, which pairs with smart entry technology. The app notifies the customer at every step and a camera, worn on the associates’ vest, records the entire delivery, for which customers have access from their phones for up to a week after each delivery. Associates take appropriate safety measures, including wearing a mask, sanitizing surfaces and locking up.
Walmart’s InHome Delivery service costs $19.95 per month or $148 per year, with no additional fees, including tips, which are built into the membership price. Customers can extend one-time access to their InHome associate using an existing smart lock, a garage keypad or by purchasing a new smart lock from InHome for $49.95.
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The implementation of electric vehicles supports the retailer’s goal of operating a zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040 and is also supported by Walmart’s growing infrastructure of 1,396 EV charging stations at stores and clubs across 41 states.
The role of associate delivery driver is a new, up-and-coming full-time position in Walmart stores that is focused on employing associates interested in serving customers beyond the store and in the community. InHome drivers are employed by Walmart and receive an extra $1.50 an hour above most current store roles, a pay differential designed to attract top talent, the company noted.
Associates qualify for the retailer’s total rewards and benefits plans, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, no-cost counseling and access to a free college degree, with Walmart paying for 100 percent of tuition and books through its Live Better U program.
Walmart will fill these roles by promoting its own associates from within, building on a track record that saw more than 300,000 associates promoted to roles of greater responsibility and higher pay in fiscal year 2021. InHome drivers receive in-depth training conducted in-person and using virtual reality, further enabling them to build their skill set around using innovative tools and technology to manage the delivery process.
“This new role is yet another example of how technology is enabling us to offer new career opportunities that just didn’t exist a few years ago,” said Julie Murphy, executive vice president and chief people officer, Walmart U.S. “Expanding our number of InHome associates is a testament to the trust and confidence we have in them and their continuous commitment to delight our customers. There’s a path for everyone to build a career here at Walmart and this position is further proof of that.”
InHome delivery is the newest delivery option to be scaled to Walmart customers and is an important part of the retailer’s last-mile delivery strategy, which includes creating a low-cost last mile delivery network focused on density, speed and sustainability. Walmart also offers delivery and Express delivery on 160,000 items from more than 3,400 Walmart stores, reaching 70 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, the retailer employs trialing of sustainable and innovative delivery solutions like drones and self-driving cars. More recently, Walmart began commercializing its nationwide delivery capabilities through Walmart GoLocal, a white-label delivery as a service business focused on providing third party retailers and brands an affordable local delivery solution.
The Home Edit
The company is also giving customers new choices when they’re shopping for home goods. Walmart has introduced its latest exclusive collaboration with The Home Edit co-founders Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin from the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Get Organized with The Home Edit.”
The Home Edit joins a list of exclusive partnerships that include Gap Home, The Pioneer Woman, Queer Eye, My Texas House and Beautiful by Drew Barrymore. Walmart carries such home goods brands as Casper, Delonghi, Dyson, KitchenAid and Nespresso.
The Home Edit collection offers shoppers stylish solutions for organizing their spaces. The inaugural collection includes four organizing starter packs, or “Edits,” which can help to organize specific areas like the pantry, bathroom and laundry room, as well as a multi-purpose pack that can be used for multiple areas of the home.
The collection also includes a variety of other items and packs, including an ornament organizer for holiday stowing, stackable bins and risers.
Anthony Soohoo, executive vice president of home, Walmart U.S., said The Home Edit co-founders’ signature style makes items easily visible and provides consistency, making spaces more enjoyable to look at and inspiring regular maintenance to those systems.
“We share a belief with The Home Edit that everyone should have a beautiful home no matter their style or budget,” Soohoo added. “That includes access to smart, stylish home organization solutions that aren’t expensive, time-consuming or require a team of people. The collection is priced between $9.98–$24.98, offering our customers the same high-quality clear storage products at a fraction of the price they might typically pay at a specialty store.”