According to a 15/1 statement from the Louisiana Economic Development Agency, Walmart plans to equip this distribution center with robots and automation solutions. Upon completion, the facility's shipping capacity will double.

The multi-year project will commence this year and be implemented in phases.

Packaging conveyor at a Walmart distribution center in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. *Photo: Walmart*

The Opelousas upgrade is part of Walmart's broader plan to modernize all 42 regional distribution centers across the US. The company aims to retain its existing workforce while transitioning job roles to higher-skilled positions in automation, technology, and robotics.

The corporation currently employs over 37,400 people in Louisiana, with over 1,900 working in its distribution centers.

"This project is strategic in our goal to modernize our supply chain network," a corporate representative told Supply Chain Dive, "by enhancing the speed, efficiency, and safety of goods distribution at our regional centers."

By 11/2025, over 60% of Walmart stores in the US were already receiving some goods from automated distribution centers, contributing to reduced transportation costs.

The retail group is also accelerating automation across other supply chain links, including "new generation" fulfillment centers that serve direct customer deliveries.

In recent years, Walmart has deployed various warehouse technology solutions, such as autonomous forklifts from Fox Robotics and inventory tracking sensors from Wiliot, to improve merchandise management accuracy and efficiency.

*The Dan (according to Supply Chain Dive)*