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At Walmart’s Intelligent Retail Lab, the future is here

Artificial intelligence, interactive displays and a massive data center are highlights of lab-within-a-store

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

April 25, 2019

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Artificial intelligence meets real-world shopping as Walmart today officially opened its new Intelligent Retail Lab (or IRL for short) inside a 50,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market grocery store in Levittown, N.Y., on Long Island.

Walmart’s tech incubator Store No 8 has positioned the lab within one of the company’s busiest locations where the retailer will test new, innovative ideas within a real store containing over 30,000 items and equipped with artificial intelligence-enabled cameras, interactive displays and a massive data center.

“We’ve got 50,000 square feet of real retail space. The scope of what we can do operationally is so exciting,” said Mike Hanrahan, CEO and founder of IRL, in a Walmart blog. “Technology enables us to understand so much more — in real time — about our business. When you combine all the information we’re gathering in IRL with Walmart’s 50-plus years of expertise in running stores, you can create really powerful experiences that improve the lives of both our customers and associates.” (Click here for a video look at Walmart’s IRL.)

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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