Walmart’s Next Leap in Supply Chain Visibility: Millions of Ambient IoT Sensors

A Historic Rollout of Real-Time Sensing

Walmart is partnering with California-based technology company Wiliot to introduce what is believed to be the largest ambient IoT deployment in retail. These lightweight, battery-free sensors harvest energy from their surroundings, such as radio waves and light, to power continuous data collection.

By the end of 2026, Walmart expects to have sensors in place across its entire U.S. supply chain network. Once fully deployed, they will track temperature, humidity, location, and dwell time for roughly 90 million pallets moving through stores and distribution centers.

“This data provides proof of delivery, improves replenishment decisions, and lets us know where our items are in real time,” said Greg Cathey, Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Transformation and Innovation. “By combining continuous sensing with AI, we’re moving from probabilistic predictions to precision decision-making.”

Why Ambient IoT Is Different

Unlike traditional IoT devices, ambient IoT sensors require no batteries or manual scanning. They are inexpensive, sustainable, and scalable across millions of products. The data they generate is instantly available to Walmart’s AI systems, which analyze the information to improve operations and forecast demand.

According to Wiliot President Julien Bellanger, this technology solves one of the biggest limitations of retail supply chains: outdated data. “AI system performance depends on its training data,” he explained. “The better the data, the better the AI. Ambient IoT replaces forecasted information with what is actually happening across the supply chain.”

Analysts at Gartner have described Walmart’s initiative as the next major evolution after RFID, which Walmart first adopted in 2004. “RFID had an enormous impact, but the cost of tags limited its reach,” said Bill Ray, Chief of Research at Gartner. “This time, lower costs and the ability to scale production make the technology far more viable.”

Transforming the Work of Associates

For associates in stores and distribution centers, the impact is immediate. Instead of spending valuable time locating pallets or verifying temperature compliance, teams now receive automated alerts that flag any exceptions in real time.

“Ambient IoT just works,” Cathey said. “It doesn’t require wanding or scanning. It lets our associates do their jobs safely and efficiently while providing continuous visibility into our supply chain.”

The result is faster replenishment, fewer inventory discrepancies, and more consistent on-shelf availability for customers.

Data That Strengthens Collaboration

As the rollout continues, Walmart and its suppliers will share richer, real-time data that supports better decision-making across the value chain. For suppliers, the new system creates several key advantages:

• Verified delivery and movement of goods through every stage of transit
• Improved replenishment accuracy through shared, live inventory data
• Enhanced cold-chain visibility for perishable and temperature-sensitive products
• Reduced waste and shrink through early detection of delays or temperature deviations

Suppliers integrated into Walmart’s digital supply chain will be able to act faster, align more closely with replenishment teams, and strengthen customer satisfaction through better product availability.

A Foundation for Global Scale

The current rollout is focused on the U.S. market, but expansion to other regions is being considered. Walmart’s initiative also aligns with the newly formed Ambient IoT Alliance, an industry group developing open standards to support energy-harvesting sensors across global logistics networks. The alliance aims to accelerate the shift away from battery-powered devices toward more sustainable, interconnected systems.

Looking Ahead

Walmart’s investment in ambient IoT represents the next major evolution in retail supply chain technology. It will enable decisions based on live information rather than forecasts, transforming how inventory is managed from supplier to store shelf.

As continuous sensing becomes the new standard, suppliers and sellers who adapt early—by improving labeling, packaging, and data-sharing practices—will gain a clear advantage in accuracy, accountability, and speed.

Walmart’s supply chain has always been a model of innovation. With ambient IoT and AI working together, it is about to become smarter, faster, and more transparent than ever before.

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