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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is investing in people and technology as it strives to boost sales by improving the shopping experience of its customers, whether they are buying in stores or online, president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon told analysts after the company’s annual meeting here earlier this month.
Walmart is investing in people and technology as it strives to boost sales by improving the shopping experience of its customers, whether they are buying in stores or online, president and chief executive officer Doug McMillon told analysts after the company’s annual meeting here earlier this month.
"You have heard us talk about the fact that we are focused on growth," McMillon said. "I think it is probably even better to say we are focused on the customer and we are trying to do what it takes to position ourselves both in the short term and the long term to win with the customer over time. I think the good news is that we have a sense for what those things are, and we are moving on them and trying to move on them quickly."
Associates were very much in the spotlight at the annual meeting itself. McMillon told associates in the crowd of 14,000 that "you are our heros." He said they are critical to Walmart’s future success, and he made reference to the company’s recent announcements about improved pay, scheduling, benefits and training.
Walmart is also investing in technology, McMillon pointed out, as the company strives to win by offering the best omnichannel shopping experience.
"We’ve always said we run our business one store at a time," McMillon said. "That’s still true. But it’s becoming more than that. It’s now one customer at a time. One customer can shop with us in so many different ways — in stores, on their phones, at home, at a pickup point. But they just think they’re shopping at Walmart, at Asda or at Sam’s Club.
"I want us to stop talking about digital and physical retail as if they’re two separate things. The customer doesn’t think of it that way, and we can’t either. Customers just want us to solve their everyday problems with an easy, seamless shopping experience. We’ll give them what they want — and things they haven’t even dreamed of yet."