Walmart Patent App Outlines Device that Automatically Reorders Products for You

Just about every one goes into a Walmart store every now and again. Just about everyone knows how annoying the stores are as well with long lines for the four open lanes, idiots blocking the aisles chatting, and difficult to find products. Walmart had been working on ways to let shoppers buy products without actually coming to the store. One of those ways is with a personal shopper that will find your items for you, check them out, and you can just come in and pick the stuff up.

Another way Walmart is looking at limiting you from having to come to the store is with a automatic reordering device that sounds similar to what Amazon is doing with the Dash reordering button. With the Dash buttons, when you run out of whatever the button is associated with you just press the button and reorder.

Walmart is taking things a step further and won’t even require you to press a button reports Hot Hardware. Walmart’s patent application outlines an IoT device that would automatically reorder or upgrade commonly used items. The subscription device would associate IoT tags with items that would work with a tracking device and a management system that monitors changes in the use of items.

The tags would be able to monitor when an item is used, for instance it would monitor how often you pick up a toothbrush to reorder toothpaste. The system could also be used to detect when the consumer is almost out of milk and reorder it or suggest things to go along with it like cereal or chocolate syrup. The patent app also outlines the ability to give warnings when a product has reached its expiration date. There is no indication of when or if the device might actually be made.