Hello Omni Talk Fans! My local DQ has AI voice ordering, and I love it!
In today’s Retail Daily Minute:
- Walmart is piloting store-based fulfillment of third-party marketplace orders in Dallas, using AI to route shipments and cut delivery windows from one to two days down to as little as three hours.
- Home Depot is exploring a $157 million, 414,000-square-foot distribution center in Yaphank, New York, designed to deliver big and bulky goods like lumber and building materials on a same-day and next-day basis to Long Island residents and construction companies.
- Dairy Queen is expanding its Presto Voice AI drive-thru pilot to franchise stores across the U.S., following a successful initial corporate deployment that shortened wait times and freed staff for higher-value tasks.
Plus, a new Spotlight Series podcast that tries to answer one of the age old questions in advertising, and a quote from a film with a pivotal scene shot at a Dairy Queen.
👇 Listen now
Today’s Top Headlines
1. Walmart Pilots Store-Based Fulfillment for Third-Party Orders
Walmart is piloting store-based fulfillment of third-party marketplace orders in Dallas, cutting delivery from 1–2 days to as little as 3 hours. The retailer is using AI to optimize shipping locations and automation in distribution centers, as it races to match Amazon’s ultrafast delivery capabilities. (Read More)
2. Home Depot Plans $157M NY Hub for Same-Day Bulky Delivery
Home Depot is exploring a $157M, 414,000-sq-ft distribution center in Yaphank, NY, offering same-day and next-day delivery of bulky goods like lumber and flooring. The facility, pending Brookhaven IDA approval, would create 200 jobs and expand Home Depot’s growing U.S. distribution network. (Read More)
3. Dairy Queen Expands Presto Voice AI Across U.S. Drive-Thrus
Dairy Queen is rolling out Presto’s voice AI at franchise drive-thrus across the U.S. after a successful corporate pilot. The technology automates ordering and upselling, cutting wait times and freeing staff. DQ now joins Taco Bell and Yum! Brands in adopting AI-powered drive-thru solutions. (Read More)
4. Tesco Trials an AI Shopping Assistant Linked to Clubcard Data
Tesco is trialling an AI assistant linked to Clubcard data, initially tested by 280,000 employees before a full customer launch later this year. The tool offers personalised meal planning, recipe suggestions, and smart grocery recommendations, developed in collaboration with Tomoro AI and OpenAI. (Read More)
5. Mondelez Bets Big on Agentic Commerce with Dedicated Hire
Mondelez is hiring a global lead for agentic commerce as AI-driven shopping accelerates. Retailer partners expect 30% of site traffic to be agentic by 2028, with the global market worth $3–5 trillion by 2030. Brands are building infrastructure while navigating adoption hurdles, walled gardens, and consumer trust. (Read More)
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— Chris and the entire Omni Talk team
Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.