TORONTO – Walmart Canada announced plans to “dramatically accelerate” its own online sales by introducing new “Grab and Go” lockers at stores, for pick-up of online orders. 

“We’re hoping to roll this out to other markets over the next 18 months,” Alex Roberton, a spokesperson for Walmart Canada, told Global News.

Walmart Canada began testing the locker system at 10 locations in Toronto and surrounding suburbs in late August. The lockers are similar to what Amazon is doing in the United States with online ordering pickups, but Amazon.ca has yet to announce similar plans. 

“Click-and-collect has proven very effective but lockers allow greater around the clock flexibility,” Doug Stephens, principal analyst at Retail Prophet in Toronto, told the news source.

Michael Memme, an executive at Walmart.ca, told the news source that the lockers could also save consumers money on shipping fees if buying gifts for family or friends near a Walmart location. “It a very smart way for customers to send packages,” he said.

A customer’s order remains in the locker for three days. If it isn’t picked up, the order is returned and the customer is refunded.