System and method for securing, releasing, and managing inventory

A method for digitally providing access to an article, the method comprising:

• generating or storing a digital key associated with at least one of one or more locking units or at least one of one or more articles secured by the at least one of the one or more locking units, wherein each locking unit of the one or more locking units secures the one or more articles in a locked state, the locking unit being alterable between the locked state in which the one or more articles is not fully accessible to the user and an unlocked state in which the one or more articles are more accessible to the user than in the locked state, and wherein the digital key being is configured such that, when the digital key is provided to a portable electronic device used by a user, the digital key enables the portable electronic device to alter the at least one of the one or more locking units between the locked state and the unlocked state without the user paying for the one or more articles or authorizing payment for the one or more articles;
• upon a first event, assigning the digital key to the user and causing the assigned digital key to be provided to the portable electronic device of the user to enable the portable electronic device to alter at least one of the one or more locking units between the locked state and the unlocked state;
• wherein the first event comprises the user initiating a request for access to the one or more articles, the one or more locking units, or the digital key, and verification that the user satisfies a predetermined condition;
• and
• wherein the first event does not comprise a payment for the one or more articles or an authorization of payment for the one or more articles;
• and
• providing the assigned digital key to a portable electronic device of the user to enable the user's portable electronic device to cause the locking unit to alter between the locked state and the unlocked state.

A system for digitally providing access to one or more articles, the system comprising one or more processor configured to:

• generate or store a digital key associated with at least one of one or more locking units or at least one of one or more articles secured by the at least one of the one or more locking units, wherein each locking unit of the one or more locking units secures the one or more articles in a locked state, the locking unit being alterable between the locked state in which the one or more articles is not fully accessible to the user and an unlocked state in which the one or more articles are more accessible to the user than in the locked state, and wherein the digital key being is configured such that, when the digital key is provided to a portable electronic device used by a user, the digital key enables the portable electronic device to alter the at least one of the one or more locking units between the locked state and the unlocked state without the user paying for the one or more articles or authorizing payment for the one or more articles;
• upon a first event, assign the digital key to the user and causing the assigned digital key to be provided to the portable electronic device of the user to enable the portable electronic device to alter at least one of the one or more locking units between the locked state and the unlocked state;
• wherein the first event comprises the user initiating a request for access to the one or more articles, the one or more locking units, or the digital key, and verification that the user satisfies a predetermined condition;
• and
• wherein the first event does not comprise a payment for the one or more articles or an authorization of payment for the one or more articles;
• and
• provide the assigned digital key to a portable electronic device of the user to enable the user's portable electronic device to cause the locking unit to alter between the locked state and the unlocked state.