Walmart wants to help shoppers avoid long checkout lines this holiday season.
For the first time, the company is giving employees in the busiest sections of its stores the power to use mobile devices to process shoppers' purchases.
These employees will be able to swipe customers' credit or debit cards and provide paper receipts using Bluetooth printers strapped to their waists.
It's meant to allow shoppers purchasing a few items to bypass long lines at registers.
Walmart started testing the service, called Check Out With Me, in the lawn and garden departments of 350 stores earlier this year.
Walmart is also touting its newly updated website, which it says now features more curated content and an expanded assortment of products.
The company said it had added more than 2,000 brands to its site since last year, including more than 150 upscale fashion lines offered through a partnership with Lord & Taylor.
Walmart also said that new toys would make up 30% of its in-store toy shop and that its online store would feature 40% more toys compared with last year.
Walmart said it had expanded its offer of free two-day shipping to "millions more" items on its website this year as well. The offer applies to orders over $35.
"This year, we relaunched Walmart.com, delivering customers a completely new shopping experience for whatever they are shopping for — whether they are purchasing a specific item or browsing our fashion and home assortment," said Scott Hilton, the chief revenue officer of Walmart US e-commerce.
"The new site, combined with thousands of new brands, curated holiday solutions, and our free two-day shipping as well as pickup offerings, will make it that much easier for customers to shop Walmart.com this holiday season."
