Walmart announced last week that it acquired Parcel, a technology-enhanced delivery company with experience in same-day perishable delivery. The company plans to use Parcel to help fulfill orders through Jet and Walmart in New York City.
Parcel uses routing algorithms, a fleet of vehicles and trained employees to sort, load and deliver packages to customers.
A couple weeks earlier Walmart announced it was testing home delivery, including some deliveries where the driver is authorized to unload fresh groceries into the customer’s refrigerator, even when the customer isn’t home. Fulfillment is provided by Deliv, which is also partnering with Sam’s Club stores in Miami.
In this home delivery scenario, drivers are provided with a one-time code to unlock the door, and customers can watch the delivery in real time via their home security cameras. The only eligible customers so far are those in the Silicon Valley who are equipped with August Lock’s internet-enabled “smart locks.”