Walmart is taking retail to new heights—literally—with the expansion of its drone delivery program in partnership with Alphabet’s Wing. Over the next year, customers in five major U.S. cities will be able to order items and receive them via high-speed drone flights in as little as 30 minutes. After successful trials and hundreds of thousands of drone deliveries completed, Walmart is now poised to revolutionize convenience shopping, making it faster, smarter, and delivered from above.
Walmart and Wing to Launch Drone Deliveries Across Five Major Markets
Walmart is taking a major step forward in its delivery strategy, announcing a significant expansion of its drone program in partnership with Alphabet-owned Wing. Over the next year, the two companies will roll out drone delivery services to five additional U.S. cities, bringing the high-speed technology to millions of potential customers.
The initiative will introduce 30-minute-or-less deliveries to areas surrounding 100 Walmart locations across Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, and the Florida cities of Orlando and Tampa. According to Wing, the phased rollout is expected to be fully implemented “by this time next year.”
Wing’s drones are designed to travel up to six miles from their launch point and deliver items directly to precise drop-off locations, such as a customer’s backyard. The exact spot is confirmed during the checkout process before the drone departs for its destination.
This latest expansion builds on Walmart’s continued investment in drone delivery, which has resulted in over 150,000 orders successfully fulfilled since 2021. Despite existing regulatory and logistical challenges, the company remains optimistic about the future of the service.
“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. transformation and innovation. “We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before.”
Where Is Walmart’s Drone Delivery Currently Available?
Walmart’s drone delivery program is already off the ground in a big way in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Drone services are currently operating from 18 Walmart stores in the region, serving close to 2 million residents. According to Wing, the collaboration results in thousands of deliveries each week, with orders typically fulfilled in less than 19 minutes.
Walmart reports that customers frequently turn to drone delivery for forgotten grocery items—such as food and ingredients missed during their weekly shopping—as well as for urgent necessities like cold medicine and baby formula.
Be the First to Know When Wing’s Drone Delivery Launches at a Walmart Near You
Shoppers in areas where drone delivery is set to launch can register on Wing’s website to receive updates about the program’s availability in their region.
Source: Retail Dive