Walmart speeds up pickup, adds ASL service for holiday shoppers
Walmart expands 1-hour express pickup to 500 stores and adds ASL service for holiday shoppers, simplifying shopping for time-strapped customers.
Walmart is expanding its 1-hour express pickup service to 500 stores before the holiday shopping season, while also rolling out an American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation tool across all U.S. locations. The retailer made the announcement this week, framing the updates as part of its strategy to simplify shopping for customers short on time.
The new express pickup will be free for Walmart+ members, with orders prepared for curbside collection in under an hour. The rollout begins at select stores and will reach all locations in the coming weeks. This builds on Walmart’s existing 30-minute-or-less delivery program, which now handles nearly 40% of all deliveries directly from stores through forward-deployed inventory and its Spark last-mile network. The shift reflects the company’s growing reliance on in-store fulfillment to reduce shipping delays.
Walmart has also launched “Shop to Light”, an app feature that uses LED indicators on store shelves to direct shoppers to scanned items. The technology aims to cut down on search time, addressing a common frustration for customers handling physical aisles. Meanwhile, store employees use a related tool called “Stock the Light” to optimize product placement and streamline online order fulfillment.
Through a partnership with Sorenson, Walmart is adding ASL interpretation via QR codes at customer service desks, allowing deaf or hard-of-hearing shoppers to connect with live interpreters. The retailer has previously enhanced accessibility with sensory-friendly store hours, where music is lowered, lighting is adjusted, and digital displays are simplified. The ASL feature further extends these efforts to improve inclusivity for in-store shoppers.
Walmart’s Store-Based Delivery Network Expansion
Walmart’s U.S. operations rely heavily on stores for e-commerce fulfillment, with about 80% of online deliveries processed through store inventory. This includes items picked directly from stock or parcels routed into stores before being sent via Spark last-mile delivery or van services. The company now handles nearly 40% of all deliveries from stores, ensuring faster turnaround for customers.
