Retailers using IBM’s order management platform now have access to Walmart GoLocal, Walmart’s white-label local delivery service.

The newly announced partnership integrates Walmart GoLocal’s delivery network into IBM’s Sterling Order Management platform, giving businesses access to Walmart services, such as same-day, next-day and scheduled shipping. According to the companies, the integration is straightforward and doesn’t require major system updates or complicated installations.

Walmart, which refreshed its branding in 2025, is No. 2 in the Top 1000. The Top 1000 is Digital Commerce 360’s database of the region’s largest online retailers, ranked by their annual web sales. It is also No. 9 in the Global Online Marketplaces Database, Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of top such marketplaces by third-party gross merchandise value (GMV).

How IBM’s Walmart GoLocal integration works

For IBM clients, adopting Walmart’s delivery solutions is simple: When an order is ready to ship, retailers can select Walmart GoLocal as their delivery provider.

GoLocal uses Walmart’s logistics network to dispatch drivers for last-mile deliveries across the U.S., offering a range of options like same-day, next-day, scheduled and even big-and-bulky shipping. The service is designed to be flexible and customizable, providing a white-label solution for businesses big or small, Walmart said.

The new partnership expands Walmart GoLocal’s reach, connecting with retailers already using IBM’s Sterling Order Management platform. These include major retailers like Sally Beauty, World Market, and John Lewis Partnerships, according to IBM.

IBM for order management services

In North America, 18 online retailers in the Top 1000 use IBM for order management services. Collectively, the 18 retailers generated more than $89.54 billion in web sales in 2023.

In an email to Digital Commerce 360, IBM highlighted key features of its order management system (OMS) platform, including its ability to deploy ship-from-store capabilities in just three weeks and deliver a 170% return on investment within three years by cutting costs.

In a recent blog post, IBM also shared how the Sterling platform handled last year’s peak holiday shopping surge. Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3, Sterling OMS processed over 42 million order lines, handled 6 billion API calls, and reached speeds of 180 orders per second, according to the company.

Why last-mile delivery matters

Last-mile delivery — the final step in getting orders to customers — is often the most challenging and expensive part of the supply chain. Rising consumer expectations for speed, driven by services like Amazon Prime, have added pressure on retailers to improve delivery options.

According to a 2024 Digital Commerce 360 and Bizrate Insights survey of 1,013 online shoppers, delivery speed ranked second only to free shipping as the most important factor when choosing where to shop. The survey showed that more than a quarter of respondents cited next-day delivery as one of the most important factors in retailer selection, while 24% chose same-day shipping.

Since its launch in 2021, Walmart GoLocal has worked to meet these demands, partnering with well-known brands like Hibbett, UrbanStems, Sur La Table and Books-A-Million. The service has positioned Walmart as a competitive alternative to FedEx and UPS in the growing last-mile delivery market.

Taking convenience to the next level

Notably, the IBM-Walmart collaboration was featured at this month’s National Retail Federation 2025 conference in New York City, where the companies hosted a fireside chat. The discussion featured Chris Townsend, IBM’s global managing director for Walmart, and Rina Hurst, vice president of Walmart GoLocal.

“By integrating Walmart GoLocal into IBM Sterling, we’re taking convenience to the next level,” Hurst said in the announcement. “IBM customers can now tap into Walmart GoLocal’s extensive last-mile delivery network and robust suite of delivery capabilities, empowering them to enhance efficiency and grow their business.”

Townsend echoed her enthusiasm.

“I’m excited to see IBM’s expertise in order management and interoperability paired with Walmart GoLocal’s experience and scale, driving innovation and success in inventory optimization and last-mile delivery,” he stated.

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