BANGALORE, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024: Walmart is pioneering the next era of retail, Adaptive Retail, to bring shopping to the customer in exactly the way they want and need. Converge @ Walmart brought together industry leaders to discuss Adaptive Retail and the role technology plays in fueling customer-centric experiences that are expected to drive the future of retail.
“Technology should power simple, personalized experiences. It should put people first and make life easier, not harder,” said Suresh Kumar, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer, Walmart Inc. “We’ve put AI, data and robotics to work to improve experiences for our customers and associates. We’ve connected many aspects of our business to deliver innovative experiences and stay ahead of shifting customer expectations across all aspects of the shopping journey.”
At Converge @ Walmart, leaders explained how they are building shopping experiences that allow customers to define how, where, when and why they obtain products, and how technology adapts to meet these needs. They also highlighted how advancements in technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality, are transforming the company from a place to buy items to acting as a concierge that offers hyper-personalized, ultra-convenient, immersive shopping experiences.
“Walmart technologists are playing a key role in creating Adaptive Retail experiences,” said Balu Chaturvedula, SVP & Country Head, Walmart Global Tech. “Our tech teams have been on this transformation journey for years. Even as we continue to power the present, our focus is on providing solutions for tomorrow. We are excited to keep innovating so we can transform the future of retail and stay committed to our purpose of helping people save money and live better,” he added.
The day-long event convened top technologists and thought leaders to bring in an industry perspective on the future of retail. In addition to Walmart speakers, prominent speakers included Vineeta Singh, Co-founder and CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics, Musthafa PC, CEO and Co-founder, iD Fresh Food, Nandita Sinha, CEO, Myntra and the Head of Flipkart Fashion, Ranjani Mani, Director and Country Head, Generative AI, Microsoft India, Shalu Jhunjhunwala, Country Director – gTech Ads, Google India, Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Flipkart, Dr. Gaurav Raina, Professor IIT Madras and several others.
A key highlight of the event was an open innovation challenge designed for the student community. Participants crafted innovative solutions that leveraged technology to address complex retail challenges. The top three winning teams were awarded cash prizes and a unique opportunity to interview with Walmart Global Tech.
Winner: Team DockOps | Mukul Goyal, Nalin Kumar Gupta, Nitin Mittal
First runner-up: Team SparklyInnovators | Uzair Patel, Saman Siddiqui
Second runner-up: Team Vaarta.AI | Aditya Garg, Harshit, Mehul Gupta, Parteek Goyal
The event concluded with a fireside chat featuring global cricket icon, Shikhar Dhawan, who captivated the audience with stories from the field and his perspectives on the potential of technology.
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.
At Walmart Global Tech, we work at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies inspired by the vision of transforming retail tech. As a people-led and tech-powered organization, we drive innovations that impact millions of lives globally. Our associates empower us with innovative solutions that power the world's leading retailer, driving digital solutions that keep us resilient and future-ready. Additional information about Walmart Global Tech can be found by visiting our website and LinkedIn.