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Yup, software was one of the keys to Walmart being able to expand as much as it did in the 1980s-90s. Their advanced (for the time) inventory & sales systems co

by toss1 1y ago

Yup, software was one of the keys to Walmart being able to expand as much as it did in the 1980s-90s. Their advanced (for the time) inventory & sales systems could tell when some products were selling well in one region and not in another (due to stylistic preferences, prevailing weather, etc.), and they could arbitrage that and move inventory to optimize sales for each location. It was a major advantage over any other store who didn't have such data and would be out of inventory in the hot region while the same items were on markdown sale a few states over. Walmart maximized profits while the blind competitors bump along with losses.

bombcar 1y ago
Their internal software was so good that their website and online store was an absolute embarrassment for so many years. They finally seem to have turned that around, though I heard they did it buy just buying someone.
- toss1 1y ago
  Yup. "In the world of the blind, a one-eyed Jack is King." Their web stuff was indeed terrible (& still isn't great), and I'd bet management had to do a LOT of wrangling to get the reports, but it still gave them an advantage over those who didn't have the (near-)live data.
- NeutralCrane 1y ago
  I wouldn’t say they have turned it around. Just a few weeks ago I was at a Walmart without my wallet. Went to use my phone to pay at the self-checkout. Can’t do it, you have to pay through the Walmart app. Downloaded the app. It had my payment information saved from my account. Didn’t work, it was an old card that had expired. Tried to update it with new card information. Errored out every time. Literally couldn’t pay, and was too annoyed to ask for help, so I left what I was going to buy there and just left.
  - bombcar 1y ago
    I was referring to Walmart dot com, which used to be absolute shit and now is at least competitive with Amazon. The Walmart refusal to embrace Apple Pay is infuriating.

by toss1 1y ago

bombcar 1y ago

Their internal software was so good that their website and online store was an absolute embarrassment for so many years. They finally seem to have turned that around, though I heard they did it buy just buying someone.

toss1 1y ago
Yup. "In the world of the blind, a one-eyed Jack is King." Their web stuff was indeed terrible (& still isn't great), and I'd bet management had to do a LOT of wrangling to get the reports, but it still gave them an advantage over those who didn't have the (near-)live data.
NeutralCrane 1y ago
I wouldn’t say they have turned it around. Just a few weeks ago I was at a Walmart without my wallet. Went to use my phone to pay at the self-checkout. Can’t do it, you have to pay through the Walmart app. Downloaded the app. It had my payment information saved from my account. Didn’t work, it was an old card that had expired. Tried to update it with new card information. Errored out every time. Literally couldn’t pay, and was too annoyed to ask for help, so I left what I was going to buy there and just left.
- bombcar 1y ago
  I was referring to Walmart dot com, which used to be absolute shit and now is at least competitive with Amazon. The Walmart refusal to embrace Apple Pay is infuriating.