Innovation In Retail Assortment

Jason Vella, Sr Director Ii, Assortment Transformation, Walmart Walmart [Nyse: Wmt]

With more than a decade in the retail assortment selection arena, I’m beyond excited about the incredible possibilities we’re exploring with advanced intelligence. When we zoom out across the vast retail landscape, it’s clear that nailing localized assortments to keep customers thrilled is a must. Equally important is getting our inventory game on point – making sure we have the right holding capacity on the shelf so that we don’t run out of stock, along with planning the right amount of inventory for our committed buys.

At Walmart, the assortment space is like a thrilling roller-coaster, offering so many dimensions to dive into. Whether it’s getting the perfect regional mix for a hyperlocalized brand that a customer expects to find in their store in Chicago, decoding the unique preferences of online shoppers placing delivery orders, or an apparel customer who walks into the store and expects to find her size for the garment that she fell in love with – our focus covers a wide spectrum. And it’s not just about adding features haphazardly; it’s about seamlessly weaving everything together for a top-notch experience.

So, let’s dive into our approach to cracking these complex challenges in the assortment realm, which is basically our secret sauce. What I want to focus on is not the specifics of what we are unlocking but how we are doing it. We’ve rallied our tech troops to develop some seriously cool optimization tools.

Imagine a squad of engineers and data whizzes working together to tackle intricate modeling puzzles and streamline how we handle exceptions. We then layer on a business-led team that can fill in the gaps and add enormous value in their own right.

Here’s the trio that’s been driving our success:

At walmart, the assortment space is like a thrilling roller-coaster, offering so many dimensions to dive into

1. Supercharged Product Managers: Imagine this as an excellent collaboration between the business folks and the product pros. The business side brings in some initial ideas, and then the product wizards work their magic to craft a clear plan and a to-do list that guides the whole team.

2. Data Science Dream Team: I’m super passionate about both the business and solving complex analytical challenges. One of the highlights of my week was brainstorming with the data science squad. We rigorously test our approaches and cook up creative solutions that promise to delight our customers.

3. Agile Business Warriors: It’s not about having a massive team; it’s about being nimble. We’ve got this compact yet dynamic crew that’s all about the business. They’re the bridge between the engineers and the wish list, and this approach has supercharged our delivery speed. As we set our sights on the future, the blend of cuttingedge tech, collaborative spirit, and adaptability is our guiding force. Our journey is ever-evolving, driven by the unwavering dedication of our team and the goal to redefine how we handle retail assortments. Walmart’s future is unfolding before us, and we’re diving in headfirst with enthusiasm and innovation.