Can you place an order by sending a text message? Walmart launches a new shopping feature

It is reported that Walmart may launch a "Text to Shop" feature, which allows consumers to add products to their shopping carts by simply sending a text message.

People familiar with the matter revealed that the feature first came to consumers' eyes in 2018 as an additional feature of Walmart's e-commerce concept Jet Black. Jet Black is an e-commerce concept launched by Walmart that aims to provide a personalized shopping experience through text messages and focuses on serving high-end shoppers in New York City. However, the service was discontinued in 2020.

The new Text to Shop solution allows consumers to search and select items from local Walmart stores and Walmart online platforms. It also allows consumers to view their online shopping carts, add or remove items, and choose in-store pickup or home delivery.

"Running out of protein powder for that breakfast smoothie? Text Walmart to add it directly to your cart. Hosting a few more guests than planned tonight? Text Walmart to quickly order the ingredients you need and schedule your pickup time!" Walmart wrote in a blog post promoting the new feature.

Walmart also lists some actions that can't be done through Text to Shop, such as updating credit card information on an account and using coupons or discount codes. Electronic Benefit Transfer payments also currently can't be used through Text to Shop, but Walmart says on its website that it's working to resolve this issue.

In addition to adding items to cart and placing orders, consumers can use Text to Shop to modify previously placed orders up to three hours before the order is scheduled to be picked up, according to Walmart.

Some people speculate that Walmart's move is not only to catch up with the pre-holiday shopping rush, but also because consumers are increasingly using mobile phones to shop. Research firm eMarketer predicts that by 2025, mobile e-commerce sales in the United States will exceed $728 billion , far higher than $359 billion in 2021.

"Online shopping on mobile phones is about to go mainstream, thanks to a host of technological advances that are making it easier for users to shop on their phones," eMarketer wrote in its report.

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