Walmart's Robotic Sidekicks Get The Boot, Partner Bossa Nova Takes A Hit

Walmart (WMT) has retired robots working in about 500 stores as it found "simpler solutions" to inventory management. The retail giant said it ended its five-year partnership with major supplier Bossa Nova Robotics. Walmart had pushed for automation in its stores for years. The company said in January that Bossa Nova robots would be used in 1,000 of its 4,700 U.S. stores. Walmart had repeatedly said such robots would be'sidekicks' to store workers.