In a retail world where Amazon leads with logistical dominance, Walmart is making a bold move with its growing network of dark stores—warehouse-style hubs dedicated solely to fulfilling online orders. These facilities are central to Walmart’s strategy to boost supply chain efficiency and compete head-on with Amazon in the e-commerce race. With an ambitious target to provide three-hour delivery to 95% of U.S. households by the end of the year, Walmart is banking on last-mile optimization, cost reduction, and the power of its massive physical presence.
Walmart is tackling the last-mile delivery challenge with dark stores—a strategic shift that converts select retail locations into micro-distribution centers. These hubs allow the company to store high-demand products closer to customers, significantly cutting delivery times. As of June 2025, the model is being tested in Dallas, with plans to roll out in Bentonville, Arkansas (Walmart’s headquarters) by the end of the year. Supporting this initiative are four state-of-the-art automated fulfillment centers in Illinois, Texas, Indiana, and New Jersey. Equipped with autonomous shuttles, AI-powered bin sequencing, and vertical layouts, these centers have already slashed handling costs by 20%.
