Walmart Brings Its eProcurement Strategy Back Home

In recent months, retailer behemoth Walmart has been launching a full-throttle B2B eCommerce campaign in India through the launch of several wholesale locations and with the launch of a smartphone app that enables small stores to do their procurement through a mobile device.

Now, Walmart is bringing some of that B2B online commerce attention back to the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reported late last week that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is partnering with Thomas Publishing to launch a new website aimed specifically at suppliers that need manufacturing parts. The new venture will connect U.S. suppliers to manufacturers, allowing them to participate in Walmart’s “Made in the USA” program.

According to reports, Walmart’s U.S. initiative led the corporation to vow to procure $250 billion worth of goods from U.S. sellers. Suppliers are looking to get in on the action, too, but reportedly expressed to Walmart that they are having difficulties acquiring the raw materials and parts they need from U.S. manufacturers.

According to Walmart VP of U.S. manufacturing Cindi Marsiglio, the new website aims to reduce the struggle. “We’re doing whatever we can to accelerate connections,” she told WSJ.

ThomasNet.com already provides suppliers with access to more than 500,000 small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers, reports said. Now, suppliers that want to sell to Walmart stores can access these manufacturers on ThomasNet.com and search for the parts and supplies they need based on company location, government compliance criteria, and other factors.

ThomasNet.com VP Tom Greco told the publication that the new venture is a spin on an existing service from the site and allows Walmart suppliers to sign up for access to a private version of the service with extra features.

Reports said Walmart has championed the benefits of domestic procurement. According to Marsiglio, buying from local suppliers means shortening the supply chain, and the costs that come with it, and gaining quicker access to the products they need that stores often run out of. “Having production close is a huge business advantage,” Marsiglio told WSJ.

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