For small business owners, purchasing everyday supplies can take up more time than they might realize. Between monitoring inventory, placing orders, and managing expenses across multiple employees or locations, these routine tasks can pull attention away from serving customers and growing their business.
At the 2026 CO—100 Small Business Forum, Tom Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sat down with Cui Arroyo, Vice President of Customer Acquisition & Commercialization at Walmart Business, to discuss how entrepreneurs can rethink their approach to purchasing. Arroyo shared how automation, digital tools, and proactive supply planning can help small businesses operate more efficiently and make purchasing a more strategic part of managing growth.
Automating supply purchases can help business owners reclaim valuable time
According to Arroyo, Walmart Business has found that business owners spend approximately four to seven hours per week purchasing supplies and managing related back-office tasks.
"When you multiply that over 12 months, it can be up to one month of productivity that you can unlock for your business," Arroyo emphasized.
To reduce that administrative burden, Arroyo encouraged entrepreneurs to explore tools that simplify recurring purchases and automate routine ordering tasks. He highlighted Walmart Business's website and app, which offer features such as scheduled deliveries, purchasing lists, and dedicated account management capabilities designed for businesses, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations.
Arroyo also discussed Walmart's investments in AI, including its Sparky shopping assistant, which can help customers manage purchasing lists, set reminders, and simplify the buying process. He noted that Walmart has partnered with major technology companies, including OpenAI and Google, to make these AI tools more useful for customers.
[Read more: What Is AI-Powered Business Automation?]
You need to put that focus on optimizing your operations in the same way as you do with cash flow and your P&L.Cui Arroyo, Vice President of Customer Acquisition & Commercialization at Walmart Business
Simplified purchasing and expense tracking can improve business efficiency
Saving time is only part of the equation. Arroyo also emphasized the importance of making purchasing information easier to manage. When purchases happen across different teams or locations, tracking orders, reconciling expenses, and understanding overall spending can become more complicated.
To help, Walmart Business offers spend management and analytics tools that let businesses monitor purchasing activity, manage accounts, and track deliveries. Arroyo also noted the platform’s ability to view prices and savings associated with purchases, giving business owners a clearer picture of their supply expenses.
As businesses expand, keeping purchasing organized becomes increasingly important. Arroyo explained that more efficient purchasing systems can help entrepreneurs keep up with growth while staying focused on their broader business priorities.
[Read more: How to Improve Efficiency and Profitability With AI]
Proactive supply planning can become a growth strategy
Based on user feedback, Walmart Business found that a significant portion of its customers wait until they run out of an item before placing another order. While this approach may address the immediate need, it leaves businesses reacting to their supply requirements rather than planning for them. Taking a more proactive approach can reduce the time owners spend managing routine purchases, particularly as their businesses grow and demand more of their attention.
During their discussion, Sullivan and Arroyo compared purchasing to cash flow management, suggesting that owners should give their supply practices the same attention they give other financial and operational responsibilities.
“You need to put that focus on optimizing your operations in the same way as you do with cash flow and your P&L,” said Arroyo. “[At Walmart], we’re trying to reduce that friction so that you stay focused on your P&L.”
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