Walgreens Brings Mobile Technology To Stores

To help improve the productivity of workers and enrich the customer experience, Walgreens is tapping into mobile technology as it bridges the digital and brick-and-mortar store experiences. The pharmacy chain is bringing enterprise-class handheld tablets and mobile computers from Zebra Technologies Corporation into its stores across the U.S., according to an announcement from Zebra.

Walgreens Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President Steve Turner said in the announcement, “Every customer has a unique need when shopping, so each experience needs to be personalized for it to be successful. Zebra’s mobile solutions make it easy and frictionless for our team members to complete store management tasks and assist shoppers, so that we can focus on delivering the best possible experience for customers every time.”

The pharmacy chain chose the TC51 mobile computer and ET50 tablet from Zebra to use in “all its stores across the U.S.,” according to the announcement. Zebra said that the technology can help workers with their daily tasks and helping customers. Workers can, for example, look up product data, check planograms, or set up orders for home or direct-to-store delivery. According to Zebra, workers then have time to assist more customers.

The news comes as Walgreens and Kroger Co. said in early December that they were expanding an experimental program to bring Kroger Express and Home Chef retail meal kits to select Walgreens stores. Kroger Express, a curated assortment of 2,300 products, was to be offered at 13 locations of Walgreens in Northern Kentucky and meal kits were said to be available in 65 Chicago area Walgreens locations.

Kroger Senior Vice President of Merchandising Robert Clark said in a press release at the time, “We are redefining the customer experience in a variety of ways through Restock Kroger, including innovative partnerships like our test-and-learn pilot with Walgreens. We are excited to enter the next phase of the pilot.”