From drones to "dark store" models, Walmart is accelerating the delivery race to meet consumers' increasingly high expectations for speed and convenience.

In february, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon stated that the public was not fully aware of the corporation's improving delivery speed. Following this statement, the corporation implemented a series of actions throughout 2025, from expanding drone delivery and leveraging its store network for same-day service, to upgrading technology and testing new warehouse models.

Photo: Walmart

**Increased in-store delivery sales highlight growth**

A notable milestone for Walmart was a 50% year-over-year increase in US delivery sales fulfilled directly from its stores. According to Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey, fast delivery capabilities have driven repeat customer purchases, becoming a significant growth driver for the retail segment.

This strategy leverages Walmart's existing advantage: thousands of stores across the US. This extensive network allows the company to shorten delivery distances and fulfill same-day demands, even in rural areas.

**"Dark store" model testing for optimized fulfillment**

In addition to utilizing traditional stores, Walmart is testing the "dark store" model. These locations are dedicated solely to processing online orders and are not open to direct customers. This model optimizes picking, packing, and delivery processes, thereby shortening order fulfillment times.

A corporate representative indicated that dark stores are part of an effort to diversify logistics infrastructure. They complement the existing physical store network rather than fully replacing it.

**Expanded drone delivery for quicker service**

In 2025, the company continues to expand its drone delivery service. Late in the year, Walmart deployed drone delivery in the Atlanta metropolitan area and plans to expand to other cities such as Houston, Charlotte (North Carolina), Orlando, and Tampa (Florida).

The application of drones is expected to significantly shorten delivery times for small orders. It also creates a competitive advantage as major rivals like Amazon are heavily investing in this technology.

**Accelerated same-day delivery amidst fierce competition**

The competition for delivery speed among major US retailers is increasingly fierce, extending beyond Walmart. Both Amazon and Walmart are relying more on internal order fulfillment capabilities, expanding same-day delivery coverage, and applying new technology to attract customers.

Analysts suggest that accelerating delivery is not just a logistics challenge but also a key factor in consumer retention strategies, especially as e-commerce becomes increasingly saturated.

**Expanded delivery services for partners via GoLocal**

In the services segment, Walmart GoLocal, the corporation's white-label delivery platform, has been integrated into IBM's order management system. This partnership allows other retailers to easily access and deploy delivery services operated by Walmart, thereby expanding the corporation's logistics ecosystem.

With thousands of independent drivers operating on the Spark Driver platform, combined with simultaneous investment in stores, warehouses, and technology, Walmart demonstrates its ambition to become one of the fastest and most flexible delivery networks in the US retail market.