In another move to make it an all-encompassing consumer resource for food, and, ultimately, general merchandise products as well, Walmart is expanding its InHome delivery service to 30 million households across the United States, up from six million today.
As has been the case with convenience services the company has previously launched, including curbside pickup, Walmart stated that it created InHome delivery to give time back to families by having trained associates deliver fresh groceries, everyday essentials and other goods directly into customers’ homes, even placing items requiring refrigeration right into customer kitchen or garage refrigerators. The delivery drivers also pick up Walmart.com returns.
Consumers signed up for InHome delivery place orders on the Walmart App and select InHome as their preferred delivery option. Delivery drivers transport the product and enter homes or garages using a one-time access code. The app notifies the customer at every delivery step and a camera worn on the associates’ vest records the entire process. Customers can access the visual record of the delivery from their phones for up to a week after each InHome interaction.
Walmart’s InHome Delivery service costs $19.95 per month or $148 per year, with no additional fees such as tips, which are built into the membership price. Customers need to have an existing smart lock or a garage keypad to enable deliveries, or they have to purchase a new smart lock from InHome for $49.95.
Walmart pointed out that InHome is just the newest delivery option it has expanded and an important part of the company’s last-mile delivery strategy, which includes creating a low-cost last-mile network focused on density, speed and sustainability. Walmart also offers delivery and Express delivery on more than 160,000 items from more than 3,400 Walmart stores, reaching 70% of the U.S. population. Walmart recently began commercializing its nationwide delivery capabilities through Walmart GoLocal. A white-label delivery as a service business, GoLocal provides both large and small third-party retailers and brands an affordable local delivery solution, Walmart noted. HomeDepot already has tapped the Walmart service. In addition, Walmart characterized itself as a real industry leader in trialing sustainable and innovative delivery solutions such as drones and self-driving cars.
“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,” said Tom Ward, svp/last mile at Walmart U.S., in announcing the service expansion. “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.”
