Walmart has announced purchase of 63 percent of the equity of Symbotic, a provider of robotics and technology to mechanize warehouses.

Walmart has evaluated Symbotic installations in a distribution center in Florida and experience gained since 2017 has evidently demonstrated the value of their technology that will be deployed in 42 Walmart regional distribution centers.

The move by Walmart parallels acquisition of a minority share in Ocado by the Kroger Company that uses proprietary technology and installations in their fulfillment centers.