US-based retail giant Walmart will finally introduce tap-to-pay capabilities at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations from August 24, marking the end of a decade-long resistance to Apple Pay support. As reported by The Verge, the company has resisted offering Apple Pay support for more than a decade, despite pressure from shoppers. The rollout comes after years of Walmart's belief that its QR code-based Walmart Pay was a more convenient solution for shoppers, with the company even doubling down on this stance as recently as last year. Walmart has announced plans to roll out Tap to Pay to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026 and to fuel stations by mid-2027, significantly expanding the contactless payment infrastructure across its retail network. This decision represents a significant shift for Walmart, which had previously teamed up with other retailers in an attempt to take down Apple Pay entirely with an alternative mobile payment system called CurrentC, which was shut down in 2016. According to TechCrunch, tap-to-pay technology is now accepted at more than 85% of retailers across the U.S., including most large retailers, making Walmart's adoption part of a broader industry trend.
The new tap-to-pay system will provide broad contactless payment support, including Apple Pay on iPhone and Apple Watch, Google Pay, contactless cards, and other payment platforms. According to Walmart's press release, customers can add their Walmart and Sam's Club cards to Apple Wallet and other platforms, giving them another convenient way to use their cards. The contactless support will exist alongside existing payment methods, including Walmart Pay, allowing customers to choose their preferred payment method whether picking up groceries, gifts, or everyday essentials. At Sam's Club, members can continue using Scan & Go to scan and pay for products while shopping, allowing them to skip the traditional checkout line. Whether picking up groceries, gifts or everyday essentials, customers can check out using eligible contactless card, phone, or smartwatch. As reported by 9to5mac, customers and members can also add their eligible Walmart, Sam's Club and OnePay cards to their digital wallets, giving them another convenient way to use their cards.
The comprehensive payment integration will be added to Walmart's existing payment options, including cash, credit cards and Walmart Pay. As reported by The Verge, customers can use the Walmart app to make payments, view purchases and receipts, and access Walmart+ fuel savings. The company stated that Tap to Pay gives customers another familiar and convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless payment methods. This expansion comes as Walmart joins other major retailers like Kroger, Home Depot, and H-E-B who have previously caved to consumer pressure and offered Apple Pay support, ending Walmart's status as one of the final major Apple Pay holdouts. The nationwide rollout by 2026 will provide customers and members with more choice at checkout and make everyday shopping a little easier. For Walmart, this decision represents a defeat as one of the world's largest retailers, which believed it could push customers to its own payment solutions despite the growing adoption of Apple Pay and others of its kind.
Walmart's financial services help customers manage their money and everyday financial needs, including options to save, build credit and pay over time. At Sam's Club, members have access to Sam's Cash and Sam's Club credit, with opportunities to earn Sam's Cash through qualifying purchases and programmes. The company's financial services provide comprehensive tools for customers to manage their financial needs effectively, complementing the new payment options and enhancing the retailer's overall service offerings. This broader effort to make managing and using money easier aligns with Walmart's commitment to giving customers more choice and making everyday shopping more seamless from start to finish.
Separately, Walmart announced that the timing shift of the 'Big Billion Days' sales event of its Indian e-commerce arm Flipkart in FY27 will create a headwind in the third quarter, while it will provide a corresponding boost in the fourth quarter. According to reports from PTI, the company expects a headwind of more than 100 basis points to third-quarter sales growth due to the shift in timing of Flipkart's Big Billion Days event between the third and fourth quarters. The timing shift is expected to impact Walmart's international business performance in the upcoming quarter.
