BENTONVILLE, AR - What once was a far-off hope is now almost a reality. Self-driving cars is already happening, but self-driving and food delivery cars? Now that's practically genius. More and more retailers, like Walmart, are investigating the possibilities and has been implementing its own pilot projects with automated vehicles to increase and streamline its delivery capabilities.

“We’ve been exploring a few pilot projects with self-driving car companies that include both customer delivery as well as transporting goods between our locations. Today, we’re announcing a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company, Gatik,” said Tom Ward, Senior Vice President, Digital Operations, Walmart U.S., in a statement on the company’s website.

Arkansas—Walmart's home state—has recently passed legislation allowing for autonomous vehicles to operate in the state. Walmart has begun testing its self-driving car program in Bentonville, where the vehicles will move customer orders along a two-mile route between two of its stores. While some details and logistics still need to be worked out, the company is eager to incorporate the new technology into its online grocery ecosystem.

“We’re always out to help our customers, and that means helping them save time and money. So, we’re using our position of strength to reinvent the shopping experience to take us, and busy families, well into the future,” added Ward.

What other retailers will follow suit on this path to automation? Will this technology reinvent grocery delivery and increase consumer interest in delivery options? AndNowUKnow will report.

Walmart