This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Walmart Inc. (WMT, Financials), the worlds largest retailer, is finally opening its checkout lanes to Apple Pay ‘and Google Pay. Tap to Pay will start rolling out at select Walmart shops and Sams Club locations in the U.S. on Aug. 24, with more sites planned by the end of 2026, the firm said.
Thats a big shift for Walmart, which has spent years urging buyers to use its own Walmart Pay system instead of competitor mobile wallets.
The move could make it easier for customers already using payment services from Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL, Financials) elsewhere to checkout. Walmart also intends to roll out Tap to Pay at fuel stations by mid-2027.
Funny timing. Walmart is changing at a time when investors are questioning sluggish comp sales growth and a steep dip in the stock price after earnings. But this is a customer experience tale, not an earnings fix.
Walmart is basically saying that convenience is more important than keeping customers in its own payments environment. For a shop with massive store traffic, even a slight decrease in checkout friction could improve the in-store experience.
