BENTONVILLE, Ark.—In another indication of the growing integration of technology into everyday life, Walmart announced that its customers are now able to shop on Walmart.com using voice commands via Google Home and Google Home Mini devices.
In addition, Walmart is offering a deal to customers of $25 off a Walmart order when they buy one of the Google devices and link their Walmart account to Google's online shopping platform, Google Express, reported Business Insider.
“The integration of Google Express and Google Home with Walmart's Easy Reorder may spur faster adoption of voice ordering among Walmart customers. It promises to be a major boon for voice shopping adoption. That's because Google Home owners are likely to use their devices for reordering items they've previously purchased, resulting in repeat orders,” Business Insider said.
This will also allow Walmart to compete with the simplicity Amazon offers in its purchase steps, with its one-click Buy Now option and Amazon Dash Buttons, for example, Business Insider noted.
“This partnership will also allow Walmart to take advantage of Google's artificial intelligence capabilities,” Business Insider said.
Since Google will have access to Walmart customers' purchase histories, and other valuable data points, it will be able to push personalized promotions to these shoppers. Personalized promotions, combined with the ease of voice ordering, may encourage time-pressed shoppers to purchase more through these devices, thereby driving up e-commerce sales for Walmart, Business Insider said.