Walmart is trying to take on Amazon by partnering with Google for voice-assisted online grocery shopping. The retail store is adding Google Assistant shopping as part of a new "Walmart Voice Order" feature in an attempt to hit Amazon and Alexa.
To start grocery shopping via voice, simply add Walmart to Google Assistant. The user must also link their existing Walmart delivery accounts with Google. They will be able to shop immediately afterward through voice commands, similar to Alexa.
How To Shop At Walmart Using Google Assistant
To shop, customers must first say, "Hey Google, talk to Walmart." Google Assistant will add items directly to their grocery cart. Walmart says one of the best things about the feature is that users can be extra confident that the retail store will find exactly what they're looking for, as it'll use information from previous purchases. If the user says, "Add milk to my cart" for example, Walmart will automatically add the specific brand of milk that users buys frequently.
Users can shop using any device that supports Google Assistant, including smart displays, iPhones, Android phones, watches, and more.
"We know when using voice technology, customers like to add items to their cart one at a time over a few days — not complete their shopping for the week all at once," says Walmart. "So, this capability aligns with the way customers shop."
The new partnership comes at an interesting time for the retail chain, which recently left Google Express' shopping service, likely to focus more on its own retail efforts instead of going through Google. That's pretty much the case here: while purchases are made though Google Assistant, Walmart will handle processing and delivery.
Going Big On Tech
This is not Walmart's lone tech pursuit, either. The company previously announced a long-term partnership with Microsoft for cloud services to compete with Amazon in the digital landscape. The five-year agreement will see Walmart use Azure and Microsoft 365 services across the company, plus new projects centered on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data platforms.
