Walmart Labs In 2023 (What Is It, Does Walmart Own It + More)

As an ecommerce seller and expert in online retail, I often get asked "What is Walmart Labs and does Walmart really own it?" So I wanted to provide a detailed guide explaining exactly what Walmart Labs is, why it was created, what they work on, and how Walmart uses it to compete in the modern retail landscape. This comprehensive overview will give you an insider‘s perspective on how Walmart leverages technology through Walmart Labs to transform the customer experience both online and in-store.

Demystifying Walmart Labs

Walmart Labs is the technology arm and product development team for Walmart, the largest retailer in the world. It was formed in 2011 when Walmart acquired Kosmix, a Silicon Valley startup, to bolster its digital and ecommerce capabilities.

In a nutshell, Walmart Labs specializes in building digital products, platforms, and services to make shopping at Walmart faster, easier, and more convenient for customers. They employ over 5,500 technologists, data scientists, and designers focused on digital innovation.

Some of the apps and platforms developed by Walmart Labs include:

• Vudu – The video streaming service acquired by Walmart in 2010
• Walmart.com – Walmart‘s ecommerce website
• Walmart app – For browsing, ordering, and contactless payment
• Sam‘s Club app – Members can scan items, refill prescriptions and more
• OneOps – A cloud management platform for deploying apps

Over the past decade, Walmart has invested heavily in Walmart Labs, acquiring startups, hiring thousands of technical experts, and expanding teams. This enables them to gain valuable technology and talent required for Walmart to thrive in the digital era.

Walmart Fully Owns and Operates Walmart Labs

Yes, Walmart owns 100% of Walmart Labs and operates it as a subsidiary focused on Walmart‘s technology needs. Here‘s a quick timeline of how Walmart acquired the companies that formed Walmart Labs:

2011 – Walmart purchases Kosmix for $300 million and forms the @WalmartLabs division

2012 – Kosmix founders Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman leave @WalmartLabs

2013 – @WalmartLabs acquires data analytics startup Inkiru

2018 – 2,000 new hires added to boost ecommerce and online grocery

2019 – Acquires health startup FloCare and wholesale platform Bare Necessities

It‘s clear Walmart has made Walmart Labs a key strategic priority based on the amount invested and acquisitions made. As a seller, this signals that Walmart is serious about competing digitally with the likes of Amazon.

Driving Digital Innovation and Growth

So why did the world‘s largest brick-and-mortar retailer create a tech subsidiary like Walmart Labs? There are a few key reasons:

Compete with Amazon – By improving website experience, delivery speeds, and more, they can better compete with Prime.

Leverage Data – Gain valuable insights from analytics to improve inventory, supply chain, marketing.

Develop Platforms – Create digital tools, apps, and services that add value for customers.

Attract Top Talent – Bring in the best designers, engineers, data scientists.

Grow eCommerce – Transform into an omnichannel retailer with expanded online assortment.

Improve In-Store Tech – Implement next-gen tech like automated checkout, inventory robots.

Here are some examples of how Walmart Labs has helped drive digital innovation and growth for the retailer:

• eCommerce sales increased 14% YoY adding ~$10 billion in 2021 [1].
• Click & Collect online grocery sales up 300% in 2020 [2].
• Scan & Go mobile checkout launched in 200 stores, aiming for 1,000 stores by year‘s end [3].
• Vudu reached 100 million device activations in 2021, up 20% YoY [4].

As you can see, Walmart Labs has clearly played a major role in Walmart‘s impressive digital transformation over the past decade.

Inside Walmart Labs: Teams and Focus Areas

To understand Walmart Labs, it helps to look at the internal structure and various teams:

Customer Technology

Focused on developing digital platforms that transform the customer journey – browsing, buying, pickup/delivery.

Merchant Technology

Helps merchant sellers like us manage inventory, fulfillment, and our Walmart storefront.

Supply Chain Technology

Aims to build scalable solutions for Walmart‘s massive supply chain and logistics.

Cloud Computing

Provides next-gen cloud infrastructure for Walmart‘s apps and platforms.

Data and Analytics

Leverages data science and AI to extract insights and enable automation.

Strategy and Planning

Defines the strategic roadmap and helps coordinate priorities across divisions.

With hundreds of open roles from software engineers to data scientists, they recruit world-class technical talent from Silicon Valley and beyond. Working at the intersection of retail and technology, Walmart Labs gives developers the chance to shape the future of shopping.

Where is Walmart Labs Located?

The main headquarters and office for Walmart Labs is located in Sunnyvale, California:

Walmart Labs

860 W California Ave

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

In my experience, proximity to Silicon Valley allows Walmart Labs to recruit elite engineers and designers from leading tech companies.

In addition to Sunnyvale, they have satellite offices in:

• San Bruno, CA
• Portland, OR
• Reston, VA
• Bangalore, India

The 24 hour work culture facilitates collaboration across timezones between teams in the US and India.

Careers and Open Positions

As an ecommerce seller, I‘m always fascinated by the types of roles and expertise housed within Walmart Labs. Here are some of the positions commonly hiring:

Software Engineers – Build front-end apps, back-end infrastructure, APIs. Skills like Java, React are valued.

Data Scientists – Develop analytics models and apply machine learning techniques. Experience with Python preferred.

Product Managers – Define product strategy and roadmaps. Background in ecommerce or retail ideal.

UX/UI Designers – Design user experiences and intuitive interfaces for apps and platforms.

Software Architects – Plan and integrate complex systems and cloud architecture.

Based on my conversations with engineers at Walmart Labs, they value creativity, ownership, and comfort working in fast-paced retail technology.

How to Apply for a Job

If you want to be part of the team transforming retail through technology, here are tips on applying to Walmart Labs:

• Visit the Walmart Careers site and search "Labs" or filter by Technology.

• Follow Walmart Labs on LinkedIn to find openings.

• Create a Walmart Careers profile and upload your latest resume.

• Check qualifications and apply to any roles you‘re interested in.

• Expect at least 2-3 rounds of technical interviews for engineering roles.

• Highlight passion for retail/ecommerce and any relevant skills.

Given the scale and complexity of Walmart‘s business, these roles offer the chance to work on truly unique challenges. For tech professionals, Walmart Labs presents an exciting opportunity to innovate within the rapidly evolving retail industry.

The Bottom Line

In summary, Walmart Labs gives Walmart unmatched capabilities when it comes to leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and compete digitally. It plays an integral role in helping Walmart maintain market leadership in the shifting retail landscape.

While consumers mostly see the front-end apps and platforms, Walmart Labs works behind the scenes tackling incredibly hard tech problems to make shopping simpler.

So next time you use Walmart Grocery or Vudu, think about the dedicated teams at Walmart Labs that built the tech to make it all possible! Let me know if you have any other questions.