Walmart’s tech incubator buys VR start-up Spatialand

Reuters Updated - February 06, 2018 at 03:12 PM.

The move follows the launch of Amazon’s checkout-free store in January

Walmart’s start-up acquisition comes as retailers seek technology advancements to improve in-store and online customer experience. In Picture: A Walmart store in California (file photo)

Walmart Inc’s technology incubator, Store No 8, said it bought virtual reality start-up Spatialand to build VR products for the retailer’s stores and websites.

Spatialand, which worked with Store No 8 on a VR project last year, is a software platform that helps create virtual reality experiences.

Store No 8 principal Katie Finnegan will serve interim Chief Executive of the new VR company, Walmart’s tech incubator said in a blog post on Monday.

Spatialand’s Kim Cooper and Store No 8 consultant Jeremy Welt will assume senior roles in the new firm, it said.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The news comes as retailers seek technology advancements to improve in-store and online customer experience.

In January, e-commerce giant Amazon.com launched its checkout-free grocery store Amazon Go, which relies on cameras and sensors to track what shoppers remove from the shelves, and what they put back.

Published on February 6, 2018 09:34