Walmart Launches Its Own Brand of Mobile Payment

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has thrown its hat into the mobile payments space with the launch of Walmart Pay.

According to the big-box giant, it is the only retailer to offer its own payment solution that works with any iOS or Android device, at any checkout lane, and with any major credit, debit, prepaid or Walmart gift card — all through the Walmart mobile app.

The mobile payment solution was launched with the goal of improving how customers check out and dramatically expanding mobile payment access. Twenty-two million customers actively use the Walmart mobile app each month, the retailer stated.

“The Walmart app was built to make shopping faster and easier,” said Neil Ashe, president and CEO of Walmart Global eCommerce. “Walmart Pay is the latest example — and a powerful addition — of how we are transforming the shopping experience in Walmart stores with features including checking in to pick up an online order at a Walmart store, refilling pharmacy prescriptions and finding an item’s store location.”

Walmart Pay involves a simple three-step process, whereby a customer opens the app and selects Walmart Pay, scans a code displayed at a register, and an associate scans and bags the items.

“The simplicity and ease of Walmart Pay comes not only from how it works, but also in how it’s been built,” said Daniel Eckert, senior vice president, services, Walmart U.S. “We made a strategic decision to design Walmart Pay to work with almost any smartphone and accept almost any payment type, even allowing for the integration of other mobile wallets in the future.”

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates 11,504 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries.