Walmart commits about $6 billion to expand Symbotic automation
Walmart plans additional automation at 25 US regional distribution centres under the multiyear agreement, which also supports its global supply chain.
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Walmart plans additional automation at 25 US regional distribution centres under the multiyear agreement, which also supports its global supply chain.
Walmart and Symbotic announced an expanded automation agreement on October 29, 2026, with an initial Walmart spending commitment of approximately $6 billion. Their joint announcement covers work over several years at multiple locations, including additional automation capabilities at 25 US regional distribution centres. The companies said the agreement also supports further opportunities across Walmart’s global supply chain.
Symbotic has helped automate Walmart’s supply chain since 2017. In its January 16, 2025 announcement, Symbotic said it was deploying robotics and software across all 42 Walmart US regional distribution centres. The new agreement adds capabilities at 25 centres rather than announcing a first automation rollout there.
Symbotic supplies warehouse robots and software. The company says its software uses superintelligence (SI) to coordinate and improve the movement of cases of goods.
Walmart plans to use the additional automation to manage inventory before it reaches the point where online orders are filled, increase storage capacity and improve how products move through its supply chain. The retailer expects those capabilities to support a broader product assortment, faster movement and more reliable replenishment across its network.
Rob Montgomery, Walmart’s executive vice president for US supply-chain operations, said the work with Symbotic, including the expanded agreement, helps improve service, increase capacity, simplify employees’ work and lower costs. The companies have not provided workforce-impact figures or an installation schedule.
The companies’ January 16, 2025 agreement addressed a different part of the network: store-level Accelerated Pickup and Delivery centres, which fill online orders for collection or delivery. Walmart committed to buying and deploying Symbotic systems at 400 such centres over several years if the systems met performance criteria.
Symbotic chairman and CEO Rick Cohen said the expanded partnership now offered a solution spanning Walmart’s supply chain to support its growth over the coming years.
Symbotic cautioned that the agreement might not deliver its expected benefits. It identified delays or failures in geographic expansion, possible termination of agreements and legislative or regulatory changes as risks. Under the expanded agreement announced on October 29, 2026, Symbotic is to deliver additional automation capabilities at 25 Walmart US regional distribution centres over several years. Walmart’s initial commitment of approximately $6 billion covers work across multiple locations and precedes that work and its anticipated benefits.
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