As supply chains face increasing pressure from labor shortages, rising customer expectations and growing SKU complexity, leading organizations are rethinking fulfillment operations to achieve greater speed, capacity and efficiency. Walmart partnered with KNAPP as its strategic Value Chain Tech Partner to develop a network of next-generation fulfillment centers designed to transform e-commerce operations at scale. Together, the companies have deployed multiple highly automated facilities across the United States, creating a fulfillment model capable of serving 95% of the U.S. population with next-day or two-day delivery.
The solution combines advanced automation, intelligent software and long-term operational support to simplify fulfillment processes and improve overall performance. By reducing a traditional 12-step fulfillment process to five core steps, Walmart significantly increased operational efficiency while improving throughput, storage density and order accuracy. The automated fulfillment centers have doubled storage capacity, enabled up to 10 times more SKU availability than traditional facilities and increased productivity by more than 50%. Orders can move from receipt to shipment in approximately 30 minutes, helping Walmart meet growing consumer demand while maintaining service reliability.
Beyond operational gains, the initiative demonstrates how automation can create better working conditions through ergonomic goods-to-person processes, reduced travel time and simplified workflows. Supported by KNAPP's Evo Shuttle 2D system, KiSoft software suite and dedicated resident engineering services, the partnership illustrates how technology, data and collaborative innovation can drive measurable business outcomes. The Walmart Next Gen FC program serves as a benchmark for modern fulfillment, showing how strategic automation investments can improve customer service, optimize costs and create a scalable foundation for future growth.