Walmart launches a new concept that could be the future of commerce: a store without customers. Located in the Dallas metropolitan area, this new facility operates exclusively as an online order processing center. It has no checkouts, no wide aisles, no shopping carts; in fact, you can't even enter unless you work there.
From the outside, it looks like just another store. But as you get closer, the doors are closed and there are no welcome signs. Inside, it's a space designed for efficiency: narrow shelves, selected products, and workers moving along optimized routes to pack orders as quickly as possible.
A model designed for speed
The approach is simple: deliver quickly and well. This type of store, known as a "ghost" store, only keeps the most demanded products to save space and speed up every order. This Dallas store is much smaller than a supercenter and is organized by picking zones.
There are no customers blocking aisles or carts full of purchases here. Employees are trained to pick several orders at once, reducing time and errors. Although Walmart hasn't released official figures, internal sources mention deliveries ready in 15 minutes or less.
This format responds to two major trends: the growth of online shopping and the need for faster deliveries, especially in urban areas.
Quiet, yet powerful technology
Behind this store closed to the public, there's a network of advanced technology working out of sight. Conveyor belts carry bags across the ceiling, mini-robots pick products, artificial intelligence predicts demand days in advance.
The entire system is designed to reduce friction, avoid errors, and deliver in the shortest possible time. It also allows Walmart to test automation solutions without disrupting the customer experience, because there is no customer in the store.
Employees are changing too. Now they're high-speed pickers or specialized technicians in automated systems. Although salaries are similar to those in a traditional store, there's already debate about what will happen when automation is fully mature.
The future arrives by air (and closer to home)
This new type of store doesn't come alone; Walmart is also making a strong bet on drone deliveries. Together with Wing (from Alphabet), they plan to launch takeoff platforms at 100 new locations. Drones can fly up to 65 mph (105 km/h) and deliver products in less than 30 minutes.
By combining these ultra-fast stores with drones, Walmart could guarantee immediate deliveries in more than half the country. All without having to set foot in a store.
Are we witnessing the end of the traditional supermarket? Not yet. But Walmart is making it clear that the future of shopping will be increasingly invisible, faster... and quieter.