Walmart is the largest retailer in the world. It's also one of the largest transportation companies. And that's where Greg Smith comes in.
Across the US, Walmart has about 200 fulfillment, consolidation, distribution, and import centers, more than 102,000 fulfillment employees, some 63,000 truck trailers, and a staff of 8,600 elite truck drivers who are the industry's envy. Then, there's a bevy of ocean-freight imports.
Smith, who is Walmart US's executive vice president of supply chain, oversees that robust and ever-expanding supply chain. And he's at the helm of keeping it more nimble and productive than ever.
"We find ourselves in a retail market that is transforming pretty significantly really from what used to be a brick-and-mortar business, where it was basically shop in store, to one that we would consider much more omnichannel now," Smith said.
He told Business Insider that, when it comes to his role at Walmart, it's all about increasing visibility in the supply chain, working more closely with suppliers, and implementing automation throughout.
"When we do business, our intention is to make sure that we can serve the customer's needs, whether that's in store or whether that's pickup from store, whether that's delivery from store, or whether that's actually delivery from a fulfillment center."