Walmart General Business Value
Walmart Ecosystems and Terminology
Walmart Platforms and Programs
Cheat Sheet
Platforms
•Let’s take a look at some of the platforms that Walmart makes use of and explain them briefly.
•A Division is a branch of Walmart. Walmart’s operations are organized into four divisions: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam’s Club and Global eCommerce.
•The company offers various retail formats throughout these divisions, including supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash-and-carry stores, home improvement, specialty electronics, restaurants, apparel stores, drugstores, convenience stores, and digital retail.
•Walmart U.S. is the company’s largest division, accounting for US$331.666 billion, or 65 percent of total sales, for fiscal 2019.
•It consists of three retail formats that have become commonplace in the United States: Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, and other small formats.
•The discount stores sell a variety of mostly non-grocery products, though emphasis has now shifted towards supercenters, which include more groceries.
•As of July 31, 2020, Walmart’s international operations comprised 6,143 stores and 800,000 workers in 26 countries outside the United States.
•There are wholly owned operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the UK.
•With 2.2 million employees worldwide, the company is the largest private employer in the U.S. and Mexico, and one of the largest in Canada.
•In fiscal 2019 Walmart’s international division sales were US$120.824 billion, or 23.7 percent of total sales. International retail units range from 1,400 to 186,000 square feet (130 to 17,280 square metres), while wholesale units range from 25,000 to 156,000 square feet (2,300 to 14,500 square metres.
•Sam’s Club is a chain of warehouse clubs that sell groceries and general merchandise, often in bulk.
•Locations generally range in size from 32,000–168,000 sq ft (3,000–15,600 m2), with an average club size of approximately 134,000 sq ft (12,400 m2).
•The first Sam’s Club was opened by Walmart, Inc. in 1983 in Midwest City, Oklahoma[266] under the name “Sam’s Wholesale Club”.
•The chain was named after its founder Sam Walton.
•As of July 31, 2020, Sam’s Club operated 599 membership warehouse clubs and accounted for 11.3% of Walmart’s revenue at $57.839 billion in fiscal year 2019.
•Based in San Bruno, California, Walmart’s Global eCommerce division provides online retailing for Walmart, Sam’s Club, Asda, and all other international brands.
•There are several locations in the United States in California and Oregon: San Bruno, Sunnyvale, Brisbane, and Portland.
•Locations outside of the United States include Shanghai (China), Leeds (United Kingdom), and Bangalore (India).
•The Global Electronic Party Information Registry (GEPIR) is a unique, internet-based service that gives access to basic contact information for members of GS1.
•The Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) is an internet-based, interconnected network of interoperable data pools and a global registry known as the GS1 Global Registry, that enables companies around the globe to exchange standardised and synchronised supply chain data with their trading partners using a standardised classification.
•World-Wide Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Solutions (WERCS) is a third party that collects/authorizes MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
•Zones are the nine east to west divisions in the US that represent areas with similar climates and elevations. Lower numbers are warmer areas.
• Payoneer is an American financial services company that provides online money transfer, digital payment services and provides customers with working capital.
•Account holders can send and receive funds into their bank account, Payoneer e-wallet, or onto a re-loadable prepaid MasterCard debit card that can be used online or at points of sale.
•The company specializes in facilitating cross-border B2B payments.
•It provides cross-border transactions in 200 countries and territories and more than 150 local currencies, with its cross border wire transfers, online payments, and refillable debit card services.
•Hyperwallet is a user-friendly payment platform and global settlement network that enables American Consumer Opinion® to distribute funds across 170+ countries in more than 150 currencies.
•You need to allow 8-12 weeks to receive your payment after you cashout.
•Once your payment is made, you will receive a confirmation email from Hyperwallet stating that your money is available.
•When this happens, click the link provided in the email and follow the directions to access your payment.
•Shopify Inc. is a Canadian multinational e-commerce company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario.
•It is also the name of its proprietary e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems.
•Shopify offers online retailers a suite of services “including payments, marketing, shipping and customer engagement tools to simplify the process of running an online store for small merchants.”
•The Retail Link user management page allows Account Administrators to view their organization’s users.
•International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) is the author of test procedures that define how packages should perform to ensure protection of their contents.
•ISTA has created the industry’s testing standards and is trusted worldwide to inform global manufacturers how to survive the ever-changing hazards of a global transportation environment, as well as the more familiar challenges at home.
•The organization pioneered package performance testing over 60 years ago and today is the most trusted, knowledgeable, and respected authority in package-performance testing.
•ISTA test procedures are internationally recognized because they are based on leading technology and the most current global transport environment data.
•The organization provides the final validation of package revisions through its packaged-product performance test procedures.
•The procedures/standards are acceptable in complying with the ISO 11607 standard.
•Today, the endgame of packaging is better-protected products using more effective and efficient packaging.
•ISTA sets the standard for optimizing packages that are survivable, sustainable, and successful.
•With ISTA package testing, manufacturers improve products and packages, which protects their reputations and their bottom lines.
•ISTA helps ensure that transported products arrive safely.
Portals and Applications
•Let’s take a look at some of the portals and applications that Walmart makes use of and explain them briefly.
•Accounts Payable Invoice System (APIS) is a Retail Link® app for searching accounting issues.
•Global Supplier Management (GSM) is an app in Retail Link® used to manage supplier agreements and related matters.
•High Radius is an accounts receivable portal used to make payments, register accounting disputes, etc.
•Online Grocery Pickup (OGP) is when a customer uses the OGP app to place an order and then goes to the store to get it.
•Retail Link® is an internet-based tool created by Walmart, giving its suppliers access to sales data and other important information.
•Retail Link® User Group (RLUG) is a support group for users and is pronounced r-lug.
•Seller Center is the Seller Platform to manage your account and catalog as a Seller or Retailer.
•Supplier Center is the application in Retail Link® where items are created and managed. This is for vendors shipping to Walmart Warehouses as well as for Drop Ship Vendors.
•Transportation Management System (TMS) is a Retail Link® app by which collect suppliers schedule trucks. Your Routing Requests are done through this app.
•Walmart Transportation Management System (WTMS) is the program Walmart uses for its transportation work.
•Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is a new program that allows sellers to store their inventory at Walmart fulfillment centers. When a customer places an order on Walmart.com, WFS picks, packs and ships the item(s) to the customer on a seller’s behalf. WFS also handles all customer support and returns for these orders.
•Developer Portal (https://developer.walmart.com/) is the Walmart Developer Center and offers a Delegated Access authorization feature which allows you to create separate, delegated access for each of your Solution Providers. Delegated Access allows you to manage your API keys and give Solution Providers access to specific services (content, items setup, order management, etc.). We recommend that all Partners utilize this feature.
•API Onboarding for DSVs – You can directly integrate with Walmart systems using their APIs to set up items, update inventory, and manage orders. Walmart’s Seller/Supplier APIs provide Developer and Partners with the tools to become Drop Ship Vendors (DSVs), Marketplace Sellers, or Content Service Providers along with the developer solutions to succeed with their customers. The API guide provides details about the endpoints, request/response structures, and sample codes. You can also find information about throttling limits, error codes, and other useful information. In addition, you can download the latest version of the XSDs.
•DSV Onboarding: SPS Commerce Services. Walmart.com has partnered with SPS Commerce to help you quickly and easily meet all of Walmart’s DSV program requirements (e.g., purchase order acknowledgements, shipment notifications, inventory status updates and more). SPS Commerce supports many of Walmart’s DSVs and they are confident they can help you as well. There are two options you can choose from:
*Connect with Walmart.com directly – Testing and Certification: If you would like to obtain either an EDI or XML connection directly with Walmart.com, SPS Commerce can help you test and certify your connection. Walmart will turn on your connection after SPS Commerce notifies them that you’ve completed training, testing and certification. After that, SPS Commerce will no longer be involved. Price: One-Time Setup Fee of $500
*Connect with Walmart.com through SPS Commerce – Webforms and integrated solutions: If you would like to integrate with Walmart.com through SPS Commerce, they can help you get set up and continue to provide support after your connection is established. Walmart will turn on your connection once SPS Commerce notifies them that you’ve completed training, testing and certification. After that, SPS Commerce will continue to provide support for their webforms and integrated solutions.
•Integrate Using a Solution Provider. Solution Providers are Walmart Marketplace experts who can guide you through complex integrations such as API or large catalogs. We strongly recommend one if you’re new to Marketplace environments.
Organisations
•Let’s take a look at some of the organisations that Walmart makes use of and explain them briefly.
•American National Standard Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States and internationally. These standards ensure that the characteristics and performance of products are consistent.
•Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is a third-party provider of solutions to monitor and build a company’s credit report.
•Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a team that monitors stores and the community for conditions such as safety, weather, and emergency situations.
•GS1 is a not-for-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication. Best known of these standards is the barcode. GS1 governs the use, assignment, and standards of GTINs/UPCs.
•Information Systems Division (ISD) is a Department of Walmart which supports and develops the systems technology the stores, DCs, and other areas of the Home Office use.
Programs
•Let’s take a look at some of the programs that Walmart makes use of and explain them briefly.
•Endless Aisle is expanding the store aisle virtually by allowing in-store customers to virtually browse. This way, shoppers have more items to select from and can buy (such as store out of stock items and online only items).
•Merchandise Transfer Request (MTR) is a process completed through the SMART system at the store that is used to effectively track the transfer of merchandise from Walmart departments, stores, warehouses, or central claims.
•On-Time In-Full (OTIF) is a compliance program that measures logistics or delivery performance within a supply chain. This is also an application within Retail Link®.
•Pick Up Team (PUT) is the person who secures a warehouse item which was purchased on-line and which the customer will pick up at the store.
•Pick Up Today (PUT) (for dotcom) is when a customer orders the product online and goes to the store to pick it up. (This is not the same as Online Grocery Pickup. OGP is a different app.)
•Price Lookup (PLU) is used in grocery, primarily in produce. Generally associated with product sold by weight.
•Showrooming is a shopping process that begins in a store and ends with an online purchase. Differs from webrooming.
•Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP) is Walmart’s program set up to evaluate, measure, and monitor suppliers’ inbound quality in order to exceed customer satisfaction, improve end to end accuracy and visibility, drive continuous improvement towards perfection, implement First Time Quality (FTQ), and reduce operational costs. SQEP will be applicable to all Walmart US distribution networks including e-commerce and was revealed August 2020.
•Trait is a characteristic of an item or store. Sometimes called an item trait or a store trait. This is different from traited.
•Webrooming is a shopping process that begins online with browsing and perhaps research and ends with an in-store purchase. Differs from showrooming.
•Walmart free TwoDay delivery is a program that guarantees free delivery or orders to customers within two business days. Eligible items are displayed with a Free 2-day delivery tag that increases product visibility and results in improved sales and conversions. All Marketplace sellers are eligible to participate in the program, with your options explained in the Enhanced Free TwoDay Delivery Program Introduction. Before you request access to the program and start setting up your items, please review the program’s features, requirements for eligibility, and options for participation.
•The FedEx Advantage program gives Walmart Marketplace sellers free access to reduced rates on FedEx Express®, FedEx Home Delivery® and FedEx Ground® shipping services.
•The ThreeDay delivery feature is an enhancement for the existing Expedited shipping method, which allows more flexibility in offering fast delivery to customers nationwide. Now, when you offer free ThreeDay expedited shipping, your products will receive Buy Box prominence, increased conversion rate, and consequently, more sales as a result.
•The Business line of credit from Marcus by Goldman Sachs is an invite-only program designed to help sellers power their next Marketplace opportunity. The Marcus Business Line of Credit is a flexible financing option that allows businesses to request funds as needed during a 12-month draw period.
•Q&A Connections is a program, hosted by Walmart’s trusted third-party Bazaarvoice, that enables certain Sellers to answer customer questions that are posted on Walmart.com. Eligible Sellers are provided with a Dashboard that provides notifications any time a question is asked that relates to their relevant branded items. Then, the Seller is able to respond to every question via the Dashboard.
•Walmart Product Care Plan or the Walmart Protection Plan offers a product replacement or refund under the right circumstances. The plan does have conditions and you must read it thoroughly when purchasing the protection. It essentially acts like a warranty service against manufacturer defects and damage.
•The Walmart Site to Store® (S2S) Program is a service that offers free shipping for online orders to any Walmart store. Behind the scenes, S2S is a collaborative effort between Walmart stores, Walmart.com, and various distribution partners to provide Walmart.com customers with a free shipping alternative for selected merchandise.