Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Business and Policy Studies

DOI: 10.54254/2754-1169/77/20241609

An Analysis of Walmart Based on Its Internal and External

Environment
Wenxi Zhang1,a,*
1
Rosedale Global High School, Markham, L3R 6G2, Canada
a. 1910718211@mail.sit.edu.cn
*corresponding author

Abstract: In the contemporary global landscape of international trade, an increasing number

of trade organizations have emerged, with Walmart prominently positioned among them. This
article delves into a comprehensive exploration of Walmart's business and market dynamics,
elucidating its trading strategies with a nuanced examination of profit methodologies, both
external and internal environments, and the attendant risks intrinsic to its operations. In
navigating the intricate terrain of international trade, Walmart confronts a spectrum of
challenges. Effectively engaging in global commerce necessitates a keen focus on
establishing a robust and adaptable supply chain network, a nuanced comprehension of local
market exigencies, diligent adherence to regulatory frameworks, and an adept negotiation of
cultural disparities. Furthermore, companies must actively discharge social responsibilities in
the contemporary business milieu, aligning their practices with ethical imperatives. Within
this multifaceted context, technological innovation emerges as a pivotal lever that Walmart
strategically deploys to augment its competitive edge. Leveraging technological
advancements is instrumental in heightening efficiency, reducing operational costs, and
fortifying market positioning. This article contends that Walmart's sustained success in
international trade hinges on a holistic approach that seamlessly integrates supply chain
resilience, cultural acumen, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation. As
Walmart navigates the intricate landscape of global commerce, its ability to harmonize these
diverse elements contributes not only to its competitiveness but also to its stature as a global
trade entity.

Keywords: Walmart, Internal and External Environment, Risk Assessment

1. Introduction
As of 2005, Walmart’s revenue from grocery sales was so significant that within a 15-mile radius of
any Walmart store, $1 out of every $4 spent on groceries in the U.S. was spent at Walmart. Walmart
is a global retailer headquartered in the United States that was founded in 1962 as a family-owned
company, it is one of the world's largest chain stores and retailers and one of the largest private
employers in the world. Walmart has more than 11,000 stores in 28 countries around the world,
including the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, China, and others. Walmart seeks
to expand global market share by entering emerging markets and developing economies. Walmart’s
main businesses include supermarkets, pharmacies, e-commerce, etc. Its profit mainly comes from
the profit from selling goods. Walmart reduces costs through large-scale collection and supply chain
© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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management and sells goods at low prices to attract consumers. In 2015, Walmart accounted for 25%
of total U.S. grocery sales, up from 7% in 2002. In fact, more than 90% of Americans now live in the
next five U.S. retailers combined [1].
Additionally, Walmart increases profits by sourcing from brands and partnering with suppliers.
Walmart also expands its market share through e-commerce, providing online shopping services
globally. In general, Walmart has a large business scale and a wide market share. It has achieved
considerable profits by selling goods at low prices and developing its mat business. Walmart has also
established a foundation whose main purpose is to support women, veterans, and small entrepreneurs,
for whom Walmart will provide donations and funds. Not only that, Walmart is also committed to
playing an active role in sustainable development. They have set several environmental goals,
including reducing energy consumption, promoting renewable energy, and reducing waste and carbon
emissions. Walmart also encourages suppliers to adopt more environmentally friendly and sustainable
production and supply chain practices. Walmart will also actively use social media and digital
technology to interact with consumers and provide a more convenient shopping experience.
They interact with consumers on social media platforms to provide product information,
promotions, and customer support. In addition, Walmart also invests in digital technologies such as
artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things to optimize supply chain
management, personalized marketing, and online shopping experience. Overall, Walmart is a global
retail giant that has achieved significant scale and considerable profitability through multiple
businesses and initiatives. They continue to attract consumers, improve competitiveness, and actively
give back to society through efforts in low-price strategies, supply chain management, private brands,
community involvement, and sustainable development. Walmart's success is inseparable from its
family business background and keen insight into market trends and consumer needs.
2. External Environment Analysis
Walmart is very competitive in the industry and has many competitors, including department stores
such as Target and Costco, grocery retailers such as Kroger and Albertsons, online giants and Amazon,
and eBay, and specialty retailers such as Best Buy and Bed Bath &Beyond [2]. Merchants are its
main competitors. For ordinary retailers, gross profit margin is crucial because retail itself is a very
competitive industry. Only by maintaining a certain gross profit margin can the company ensure
profitability. However, at some point, Walmart may be displaced. In this era of fierce competition,
Amazon, Carrefour, etc., may become one of Walmart’s strong competitors or even replace it. From
the perspective of their competition, they have all competed head-on in different countries and have
achieved good results. However, through comparative analysis, we found that Walmart and Carrefour,
for example, have very different competitive strategies. For example, after Walmart entered the
Chinese market, it regarded Shanghai as its first choice [3]. After the negotiation failed, it turned its
attention to Shenzhen and set up its headquarters in Shenzhen.
On the other hand, Carrefour started in Beijing and then moved its headquarters to Shanghai. They
all set their target audience as the working class, mainly selling daily necessities, but they also have
different views on consumer needs. Walmart emphasizes scale, while Carrefour emphasizes adapting
to the needs of different consumers. Carrefour CEO Nader even said: "A retail branch is a microcosm
of the region in which it is located. The branch must adapt to the local cultural atmosphere." Therefore,
the masses may feel better about Carrefour threatening Walmart's position in the market. In addition,
if you want to become a supplier to Walmart, you must first understand your status.
Such companies can basically be divided into two categories: manufacturers and traders. Walmart
may be more willing to deal directly with manufacturers because if The inclusion of traders in
transactions with manufacturers may lead to increased costs. Walmart reduces logistics costs by
establishing an efficient supply chain system. Establish close cooperative relationships with suppliers

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DOI: 10.54254/2754-1169/77/20241609

and use centralized procurement and large-scale methods to obtain better prices and preferential
conditions. Secondly, Walmart's scale advantage enables it to purchase goods at a lower cost and gain
through large-scale sales. Higher profits, then, in addition to the retail business, Walmart also has
other business units, such as logistics and supply chain services, financial services, and healthcare,
allowing Walmart to achieve revenue growth in different areas and reduce its reliance on a single
business. Finally, Walmart adopts an aggressive pricing strategy to attract customers and increase
sales, conducting frequent price adjustments and promotions to ensure that their product prices are
competitive. The above four initiatives can enable Walmart to reduce costs, improve operational
efficiency, and achieve higher revenue. However, it is important to note that Walmart's business
models and strategies may also vary by region and prevailing conditions. In the past few years,
Walmart has rapidly expanded globally to pursue financial figures, but the result has been a huge
blow to the entire brand value [4]. For example, Walmart has experienced failure in the Chinese
market because our country is still in the stage of economic take-off. Walmart hopes to penetrate
China's internal market through large and medium-sized cities and then develop into small cities.
However, Walmart needs help considering the large and medium-sized city markets while developing
small cities.
Walmart's purpose is to provide consumers with the best products at the lowest prices, so finding
a trader first may go against this principle [5]. To become a supplier of Walmart, you can also contact
and understand Walmart through various channels. For example, it is good to understand the quality,
price, supply status of goods, etc. It is also good for preparing financial statements, product catalogs,
and price lists. a choice. Charles, vice president of Moody's, said, "Walmart's core customer base is
struggling on a mediocre income, and the money saved from the drop in oil prices will not be
converted into more spending power." Walmart said they are not optimistic about the next fiscal year.
There are no expectations for annual sales growth, with the company previously estimating 3%-4%
but gave a new estimate last month based on the appreciation of the U.S. dollar. The company's shares
have fallen nearly 16% in the past 12 months. Housewives may be Walmart's main consumer group
because Walmart sells many products, including food, household items, and electronic products,
which are very convenient. Walmart sells products at low prices and scale, which is very suitable for
low-income people and price-sensitive consumers [6]. It is helpful for them to buy good things at low
prices. Another category is office workers, who often buy some daily necessities or fast-moving
consumer goods at Walmart. In general, Walmart is still very competitive in the sales market, whether
from the perspective of suppliers, substitutes, and consumers. In many countries, Walmart has a wide
range of markets and specific consumer groups. Although it has many competitors, it is still an
important part of today's market and has an irreplaceable position.
3. Internal Environment Analysis
After decades of development, Walmart has become the world's largest chain store and has topped
the list of Fortune Global 500 companies for four consecutive years. In the long-term operation
process, Walmart has formed its own unique business method, which has also formed its core
competitiveness-affordable prices every day. The key to Walmart's service is customer satisfaction.
Walmart's business purpose, "affordable prices every day", also focuses on customer behavior. Parity
here refers to maintaining a long-term and stable price markup rate for goods at a low level. As one
of the world's largest workforces, total earnings typically remain at very high levels. However,
specific values will vary depending on the year and changes in economic circumstances.
Walmart's batch sizes are also typically large in terms of weight due to the sheer scale of its
operations and global sales. The price-to-earnings ratio and profit margin are also very important
indicators. The abbreviation of the price-to-earnings ratio is P/E or PER, which refers to the market
price per share divided by earnings per share. It usually indicates whether a stock is the cheapest or

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most expensive. The price-to-earnings ratio usually determines the stock price of a company. It is
related to its ability to create wealth [7]. Profit margin generally reflects the company's profit level
and relative indicators in a certain period [8]. Profit rate indicators can reveal the completion of
corporate profit plans and compare the operation and management levels of various enterprises in
different periods to improve economic efficiency. Common profit margins include gross profit margin,
net profit margin, etc. Walmart's price-to-earnings ratio is generally affected by a variety of factors,
including the company's profitability, growth prospects, and market conditions. As a retailer,
Walmart's profit margins may also be affected by various factors, including procurement costs,
operational efficiency, sales strategies, etc. Walmart also has strong internal operating advantages.
Walmart is very large. Through large-scale procurement, it obtains goods at lower costs and provides
lower prices to consumers through scale effects. Walmart's global supply chain network enables it to
Efficiently manage merchandise flow and inventory to improve operational efficiency and reduce
costs. Walmart also actively adopts and develops new technologies, including e-commerce, the
Internet of Things, and data analytics, to improve operational efficiency, customer experience, and
market competitiveness.
Walmart has taken a series of measures at the strategic level to improve its competitiveness [9].
First, diversified business. Walmart has embarked on diversified expansion in different business areas
to enhance its competitiveness. In addition to traditional physical retail, it has also developed digital
channels such as e-commerce, online sales, and mobile applications. Second, investing in technology
and innovation, Walmart has been committed to investing in and adopting new technologies to
improve its business operations and customer experience. It actively promotes digital transformation,
including innovative applications in e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and other fields. Third,
strengthen the supply chain and logistics. Walmart has always focused on optimizing its supply chain
and logistics network to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. It provides faster
and more reliable delivery services through advanced inventory management, enhanced distribution
capabilities, and the implementation of advanced logistics technology. Fourth, expand product
selection. Walmart is committed to providing a rich and diverse product selection to meet the needs
of different consumers. It builds partnerships with suppliers and ensures product quality and
availability through procurement and supply chain optimization. Fifth, establish a strong brand image.
Walmart enhances its image and recognition in the minds of consumers through advertising,
marketing, and brand building. It is committed to providing high-quality products and services and
carrying out various projects with community partners. Social responsibility projects. Generally
speaking, Walmart has achieved a low-cost and high-efficiency operating model through large-scale
procurement, a global supply chain network, and funny internal operating model. It has also expanded
its business through diversification, expanded product selection, and established a strong brand image.
Walmart continues to enhance its market competitiveness. Walmart's successful experience provides
useful reference for other retailers while demonstrating the importance of focusing on customer needs,
optimizing operations, and innovative development in a highly competitive market.
4. Risk Assessment
Although Walmart is one of the world's largest chain retailers with strong competitiveness, it also
faces some risks and challenges [10]. First, there is market competition pressure. Competition in the
retail industry is fierce. Walmart needs to deal with competition from other retailers, e-commerce
platforms, and emerging market players. This may lead to price wars and reduced profit margins,
requiring continuous improvements in competitiveness. Walmart can enhance its competitiveness by
continuously improving product quality, service levels, and shopping experience. At the same time,
we actively adopt and develop new technologies, expand digital channels, and provide more
diversified products and services to attract and retain consumers. Second, price fluctuations and

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consumer confidence, instability in the global economy, and fluctuations in consumer confidence
may affect consumer spending and shopping habits, thereby negatively affecting Walmart's sales and
profits. Walmart can adopt a flexible premium pricing strategy that can be adjusted according to
changes in the economic environment to remain competitive and attract consumers. In addition, we
will strengthen market research and customer insights, understand changes in consumer football and
purchasing behavior, and promptly adjust product mix and marketing strategies. Third, Walmart
operates globally and needs to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements of various countries.
Changes in legal, labor, and environmental regulations could increase costs and adversely affect
business operations. Walmart needs to establish a sound compliance system to ensure compliance
with the legal and regulatory requirements of various countries. Strengthen monitoring and evaluation
of regulation changes, and promptly adjust business processes and operating methods to ensure
compliance. In addition, we maintain active communication and cooperation with governments and
regulatory agencies and participate in the formulation of relevant policies and standards.
Fourth, supply chain risk. Walmart's operations rely on a huge supply chain network, including
supplier relationships and logistics management. Problems in the supply chain, such as shortages of
raw materials, delivery delays, or product quality issues, can lead to inventory issues and customer
dissatisfaction. Walmart can reduce supply chain risks by establishing stable supplier relationships
and strengthening supply chain transparency and cooperation. Invest in advanced supply chain
technology and logistics systems to improve supply chain visibility and flexibility and to quickly
respond to supply and demand changes and emergencies. Fifth, network security and data privacy.
With the advancement of Walmart’s digital transformation, network security, and data privacy have
become important issues. Cyberattacks and data breaches can damage brand reputation, cause loss of
customer trust, and cause legal liability. To protect customer and business data, Walmart must
strengthen cybersecurity measures, including encryption, authentication, and access controls.
Continuously conduct network security training and awareness raising to improve employees' ability
to identify and respond to network threats. Work with professional security agencies and partners to
address the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. Sixth, social and environmental responsibility.
Consumers are increasingly demanding corporate social and environmental responsibilities. Walmart
needs to actively respond to sustainable development and social responsibility issues, such as
reducing environmental impact, improving supply chain sustainability, and employee welfare.
Walmart can actively promote sustainable development and social responsibility projects, including
reducing environmental impact and improving supply chain sustainability and employee welfare.
Establish a transparent social and environmental reporting mechanism to demonstrate the company's
sustainable development results and commitments to consumers and stakeholders. To sum up,
Walmart needs to maintain keen insight, flexibility, and innovation capabilities to respond to the
changing business environment and consumer needs.
5. Conclusion
In the future, Walmart will continue to promote digital transformation and strengthen the
development of e-commerce and online sales channels. By improving the online shopping experience,
strengthening data analysis and personalized recommendations, Walmart can better meet consumer
needs, seize e-commerce market share, optimize the supply chain and logistics network, and improve
operational efficiency and response speed. By introducing innovations such as automation technology,
the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, Walmart can achieve faster and more reliable
logistics and inventory management, provide better product availability and delivery services, and
further expand into diversified business areas such as healthcare and financial services. and
technological innovation. By cooperating with partners or developing new businesses independently,
Walmart can increase revenue sources, provide a wider range of services, and enhance the brand's

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competitiveness and market position, focus on sustainable development and social responsibility, and
strengthen environmental protection, community support, and supply chain sustainability. Persistent.
By reducing carbon emissions, promoting a circular economy, and promoting social welfare projects,
Walmart can win consumers' favor, be consistent with the trend of sustainable development, and seek
to expand its business globally. Especially in emerging markets, Walmart can leverage its experience
and scale advantages to meet growing consumer demand and establish cooperative relationships with
local partners for common development.
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