Walmart Upgrades Sourcing with Bamboo Rose
Walmart has plans to upgrade its sourcing systems. The retail giant has partnered with supply chain management technology company Bamboo Rose to develop and implement an enterprise sourcing platform designed to improve the way Walmart does business with tens of thousands of suppliers around the world.
The new enterprise sourcing platform will allow Walmart sourcing associates to more easily work with buyers, product development teams and suppliers to improve the way the company imports goods. The single sourcing platform will allow Walmart to create better visibility across teams, enabling buyers to make more informed decisions based on volume and cost. The platform, which will be used by Sam’s Club as well, also has the potential to improve access of goods to other markets to potentially reduce waste in categories such as perishable goods and other sensitive items.
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“I’m thrilled to be able to work with Bamboo Rose to develop a brand-new ecosystem connecting our global teams with a single platform, empowering us to go beyond simply streamlining information,” said Daniel Berg, vice president of product global sourcing at Walmart. “With this technology, we’ll be able to engage with suppliers across multiple growth stages, expand global offerings and make more efficient decisions.”
Bamboo Rose, whose clients include American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and Kohl’s, has beefed up its operation with two major acquisitions this year. In March, the company acquired Backbone PLM, which digitizes manual parts of the product development process for apparel, soft goods and hard goods. And in October, the company picked up supply chain software provider Supply Pilot, which provided supplier engagement and collaboration software to brands such as John Lewis, SC Johnson and PetSmart. Last year, the company secured a strategic investment from private equity firm Rubicon Technology Partners.
“We believe retailers succeed when they collaborate internally and across supplier networks to provide openness and opportunities for collective growth,” said Mike Mattei, chief revenue officer at Bamboo Rose. “We deeply understand the challenges faced by our customers and we craft solutions that drive positive business outcomes for global retailers. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional value.”
The partnership with Bamboo Rose comes at a time when Walmart is working to improve its supply chain. Last month, a report from Insider revealed delivery drivers for the retailer’s burgeoning Spark delivery network were complaining of long wait times to have product brought to their vehicles from the store. Walmart has tried to address those pain points through its Spark Driver app, which recently added program upgrades such as a direct response to driver feedback.
Beyond Spark, Walmart also has expanded its delivery capabilities by adding late-night express delivery until 10 p.m. on orders placed by 9:30 p.m. With that expansion, the retailer now offers delivery on more than 200,000 items from more than 4,000 stores across the U.S. within as little as 30 minutes.
