Symbotic announced and deployed a development program in 2025 to build AI-powered robotic systems for Walmart's in-store Accelerated Pickup and Delivery centers (APDs), which automate the fulfillment of online grocery orders placed for curbside pickup or home delivery. This extends Symbotic's warehouse automation from large regional distribution centers down to individual retail store locations.

Symbotic acquired Walmart's Advanced Systems and Robotics business in January 2025 for $200 million and simultaneously signed a commercial agreement under which Walmart will fund Symbotic to develop and deploy automation systems at up to 400 APD micro-fulfillment centers located inside Walmart stores. The APDs use store inventory to fulfill buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders more efficiently. Symbotic's AI-enabled robotics platform, previously deployed at regional distribution centers, will be adapted and deployed at the store level. Walmart's store-fulfilled deliveries grew nearly 50% year-over-year entering into 2025, driving demand for this capability. The transaction could add more than $5 billion to Symbotic's backlog.