Comparing Amazon and Walmart's E-commerce Strategies

The assignment compares the distribution channels of Amazon and Walmart, two leading e-commerce companies. While Amazon is focusing on same-day delivery through a network of distribution centers, Walmart is expanding its e-commerce capabilities and leveraging its retail store presence for online order pick-up. The question is which approach will be most successful, with Amazon's goal being to deliver products the same day they are ordered, while Walmart aims to make products available for pick-up at the nearest store on the day of ordering.

Amazon is the world's largest e-commerce company while Walmart is the undisputed
world's largest retailer.
The distribution channels that these behemoths employed were distinctly different in the
past (clicks vs. bricks) but are now starting to merge.
Amazon is rapidly building a network of distribution centers across the country and
many observers believe their ultimate goal is to provide home delivery to consumers the
same day that it is ordered.
Walmart is expanding its own e-commerce capabilities and leveraging a world-class
supply chain system and enormous retail store presence with the goal of making
products ordered online available for pick-up by consumers at the closest Walmart store
on the day it is ordered.
 Which approach do you believe will be the most successful?
 Can Amazon really pull off same-day delivery across the nation (not just select urban
markets)?
 Will Amazon overtake Walmart as the world's largest retailer (they still have a long way
to go)?
Support your response with research.
Required Readings
1. Using Marketing Channels to Create Value for Customers
2. Wienclaw, R. A. (2015). Channel Management. Research Starters: Business (Online Edition),
3. Bell, D. R., Gallino, S., & Moreno, A. (2014). How to win in an omnichannel world. MIT Sloan
Management Review, 56(1), 45-53. Retrieved from http://sloanreview.mit.edu/
4. Dawar, N., & Stornelli, J. (2013). Rebuilding the relationship between manufacturers and retailers. MIT
Sloan Management Review, 54(2), 83-90. Retrieved from http://sloanreview.mit.edu/
5. Bell, D. R., Choi, J., & Lodish, L. (2012). What matters most in internet retailing. MIT Sloan Management
Review, 54(1), 27-33. Retrieved from http://sloanreview.mit.edu/
Recommended Readings
 Hopkins, M. S. (2010). Your next supply chain. MIT Sloan Management Review, 51(2), 17-24. Retrieved
from http://sloanreview.mit.edu/
 Straker, K., & Wrigley, C. (2016). Designing an emotional strategy: Strengthening digital channel
engagements. Business Horizons, 59(3), 339-346. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2016.01.010
 Channel Dynamics