In a move that signals the maturation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in retail, Wiliot has announced a nationwide deployment across all 4,600 Walmart U.S. stores and 40 distribution centers. In this episode of Omni Talk’s Retail Technology Spotlight, Nick Matthews, VP of Solutions and Architecture at Wiliot, pulls back the curtain on how this deployment works, why it matters, and what it means for the future of retail operations.
The Technology Behind the Transformation
Unlike traditional RFID systems that require specialized readers, Wiliot’s approach leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, an infrastructure that’s already ubiquitous in retail environments. As Nick explains, “One of the big differences between Bluetooth and RFID is that RFID is kind of like a hydrogen car. They’re super cool, but it’s hard to find a hydrogen gas station.”
Wiliot’s wireless energy-harvesting tags use ambient Bluetooth signals to power themselves and transmit data including location, temperature, humidity, and movement. These “pixels” are integrated directly into the 4×6 labels that Walmart already applies to pallets at the distribution center level, requiring no additional work from associates.
The infrastructure requirements are minimal. Typically fewer than five to six Bluetooth readers per store, and the system integrates seamlessly with existing associate devices. Store workers receive alerts through their existing systems without needing to adopt new apps or processes.
Real-World Impact: From Deployment to Results
The Walmart deployment didn’t happen overnight. Wiliot started with a pilot across three states—Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana—covering several hundred locations. The results were compelling enough that Walmart committed to a complete nationwide rollout.
The applications are immediately practical. Nick shares a powerful example: “If you have to pull off a pallet that wasn’t supposed to go to your store to get to another pallet, we can actually send you a reminder if we determine that you don’t forget to put this pallet back on the truck.” This simple alert prevents costly inventory discrepancies and ensures products reach their intended destinations.
For cold chain compliance, the system monitors temperature in real-time and alerts associates if a pallet has been left out of refrigeration too long. The impact? Walmart projects saving tens of millions of pounds of food in 2026 alone through better cold chain management and waste prevention.
The ROI Picture: Beyond Just Tracking
While knowing where products are is valuable, the ROI of Wiliot’s system extends much further:
- Inventory Accuracy: Continuous pallet-level visibility resolves discrepancies and automates alerts that previously didn’t exist
- Food Waste Reduction: Real-time location and temperature sensing protects perishables and reduces spoilage
- Labor Efficiency: Automation eliminates manual scanning, freeing associates to focus on customers
- Compliance: Ambient IoT data provides verifiable proof of delivery, handling, and cold chain integrity for FSMA requirements
- Loss Prevention: High-value items like electronics can be tracked throughout their journey, reducing shrink
As Nick emphasizes, “Wiliot is really being leveraged to keep problems from happening, not document that a problem happened.”
Physical AI: The Next Frontier
Perhaps the most intriguing concept Nick introduces is “Physical AI”—Wiliot CEO Steve Statler’s vision for extending artificial intelligence beyond the digital world of clicks and searches into the physical world around us.
“We’re trying to bring intelligence to objects, products, and the environment to help move our economy,” Nick explains. Physical AI connects billions of everyday things—pallets, produce, medicine, manufacturing equipment—to deliver a continuous stream of real-time information that powers AI systems with unprecedented understanding of the physical world.
This isn’t theoretical. Walmart’s nationwide deployment demonstrates how combining ambient IoT and AI is already transforming retail at massive scale, creating an intelligent, responsive network that benefits businesses, associates, and consumers.
Is Willot Right for Your Operation?
One question retailers often ask: Do you need to be Walmart-sized to benefit from this technology?
Nick’s answer is clear: “The size of the operation doesn’t matter as much as the commitment to quality and excellence.” Wiliot works with suppliers of all sizes, from those shipping tens of thousands of products to massive retailers moving hundreds of millions of units.
His advice for retailers considering the technology? Start with one problem. Once you solve that problem and integrate into your existing systems, additional use cases become fast and easy to execute.
Looking Ahead
While the current deployment focuses on pallet-level tracking, Nick hints at exciting expansions coming in 2025, including more granular inventory solutions. The company plans to follow the same measured approach—pilot, prove, then scale.
For retailers struggling with inventory accuracy, food waste, compliance requirements, or labor efficiency, Wiliot’s Walmart deployment offers a compelling proof point that ambient IoT technology has matured from promising pilot to enterprise-ready solution.
Listen to the full episode to hear Nick Matthews dive deeper into deployment strategies, infrastructure requirements, and the future of Physical AI in retail. Part two of this conversation, focusing exclusively on Physical AI will be released in December.
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Be careful out there,
– Chris, Anne, and the Omni Talk team
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Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.