The retail giant partnered with Knapp, a tech company for fulfillment solutions, to develop an automated storage system that condensed a 12-step manual process down to five steps. It touted the benefits of the technology as offering double the storage capacity and double the number of customer orders it can fulfill daily, according to a statement. That technology is key to the new facilities, but Walmart also expects to modernize its supply chain by adding automation to existing facilities. Walmart's network of 42 regional distribution centers is in the process of a major upgrade through a separate partnership with Symbiotic that was announced last year and expanded in May. Joe Metzger, executive vice president of U.S. supply chain operations, described the technological upgrade as revolutionary when applied at scale.