Walmart is buying up the technology and assets behind Thunder, which uses automation to create digital ads. One key goal for the retailer is to bring in more advertising business from small to medium-size businesses (SMBs). The behemoth retailer’s latest move is part of its campaign to take on Amazon’s advertising division, in part by broadcasting what Walmart can do for online sellers.
“Thunder’s technology and team will reduce the time between the idea for an ad and the ad going live for suppliers,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer for Walmart, in a press release. “While we expect our largest suppliers to adopt automation technology fastest, we are building this new platform to scale for Marketplace sellers and suppliers of all sizes.”
Whiteside added that “Thunder technology will be integrated with our display self-serve platform,” and that “Thunder will also increase ad effectiveness over time with creative versioning, testing and optimization.” Over the last two years, she noted, Walmart “has been on a journey to help advertisers run their campaigns more efficiently using self-serve and automation capabilities.”
Last week, on January 28, Walmart renamed its media operations from Walmart Media Group to Walmart Connect. The retailer stated the new name reflects its capacity to connect its 150 million weekly shoppers and advertisers, according to an announcement.
Also last week, Walmart announced a plan to roll out more fulfillment centers at local stores to better serve online buyers, which could be “a compact, modular warehouse built within, or added to, a store.”
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Google and South Carolina Clash Over State Records Demand
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Telefonica Germany Teams Up with Amazon Web Services to Migrate 5G Customers
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Grants $7.4 Million Settlement in Pork Price-Fixing Case
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Wilson Sonsini Bolsters Antitrust and Competition Practice with Key Partner Returns
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
EU to Scrutinize Telecom Italia’s Network Sale to KKR
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI