@WalmartLabs Buys Two Startups, Asserts Tech Superiority

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Image via San Jose Mercury News
Walmart lacks a big storefront presence in SF, with the nearest one more than 40 miles away. But big things are brewing at its tech arm, San Bruno-based @WalmartLabs, with two recent startup acquisitions of One Ops and Tasty Labs, which bring expertise and knowledge of cloud-based apps and ecommerce software development respectively to the Walmart chain. Expect similar moves to come as Walmart steadily adds to its mobile and online shopping channels and builds its social media presence (current focus: Pinterest).

Target recently followed Walmart's example and opened a tech center of its own just last Friday. And although Target is miles ahead of Walmart in style and cool, Walmart maintains its lead in tech with immediate plans to hire over 150 engineers by July. But the huge dividing factor is Amazon. While Walmart gears up for battle with the competitor, Target partnered up with the ecommerce giant. Time will only tell which tactic prevails. May the best tech center win. —Esther Hahn
· Walmart Silicon Valley tech lab grows with acquisitions, hiring [San Jose Mercury News]
· Walmart Gobbles Up Digital Expertise but Still Struggles to Manage Logistics [brandchannel]
· Target Opens a Tech Center in San Francisco [Racked SF]