Now it really is Wally’s World …

Walmart has robots — and I’m not talking about toys on shelves. The company has been doubling down on automation with everything from self-checkout and floor cleaning to sorting arriving merchandise — and, as you can see in person at the Pueblo West store, shelf inventory:

We would like to introduce you to our newest associate. This is Wally. You will see Wally going up and down the aisles all around the store. Wally’s job is to scan the counters and let us know which items need immediate stocking to give you a better shopping experience. Wally will go around you if you’re in an aisle he is scanning and turn his lights off. Please continue your normal shopping if you encounter Wally.

Walmart Pueblo West

Workforce transformation isn’t coming — it’s here, and while it’s too soon to tell what it will mean for every job, and how (or even if) economies and governments will react, it’s past time for those discussions to take place.

What do you think of the Walmart robots?

Video and image courtesy Walmart