Walmart’s Antidote to Locked Up-Products: A Key on Your Phone

Walmart Inc. is testing technology in stores that would let people open security locks for products from their cellphones, a bid to protect against theft without hindering sales.

The technology is live in a few hundred Walmart stores and allows employees to unlock cases without manually using keys, according to a person familiar with the test who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

While the company is rolling out the test to employees first, it has discussed extending mobile unlocking Walmart+ loyalty members, other people familiar with the plan said. Walmart has previously said shrink, or inventory loss ...