Walmart announced that they will be making a multi million dollar investment in high tech automation at Ottawa’s Distribution Center. The investment is part of Walmart’s broader initiative to renovate all of its 42 regional distribution centers as the retailer continues to modernize its vast supply chain network. Once complete, the distribution center will be able to ship nearly double the number of cases compared to a traditional Regional Distribution Center while evolving strenuous, manual jobs into those that offer new skills in robotics and technology. General Manager of the Distribution Center, Tony Kildrow, says adding robotics, automation and AI-powered software systems to Ottawa’s facility will revolutionize an already impressive operation, fundamentally changing the way they distribute products to stores.
Walmart has two distribution centers in Kansas and officials say that by adding the technology at the Ottawa DC will automate what was formerly a physically demanding, manual process. It uses a combination of people, robotics and massive storage systems to increase the speed at which the retailer sends merchandise to stores, ensuring product gets onto shelves even faster.
