(Currently Amended) A smart container comprising: a compartment having a plurality of walls and a hinged access component configured to open and close to provide or prevent access to the compartment, the hinged access component having a fastening hook configured to engage an electromechanical latch formed within one of the plurality of walls to prevent access to the compartment, a memory including a non-volatile data store containing a local cache storing a local inventory of the compartment; an electromechanical latch engaged to a fastening hook of the access component; a communication interface disposed within the smart container; an audiovisual element disposed within the smart container; a sensor; and a processor disposed within the smart container and configured to: receive, via the communication interface, an authenticated request to access the compartment; in response to receiving the authenticated request, actuate the electromechanical latch to disengage the fastening hook of the hinged access component, thereby initiating a mechanical movement of the access component to make the compartment accessible; output, upon actuation of the electromechanical latch, an alert via the audiovisual element on the compartment to identify the container; confirm that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, thereby securing the compartment; determine, after confirming that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, a change in a local inventory based on a measurement provided by the sensor of the smart container; and update the local inventory in the non-volatile data store_responsive to determining the change in the local inventory. a compartment having a plurality of walls and a hinged access component configured to open and close to provide or prevent access to the compartment, the hinged access component having a fastening hook configured to engage an electromechanical latch formed within one of the plurality of walls to prevent access to the compartment, a memory including a non-volatile data store containing a local cache storing a local inventory of the compartment; an electromechanical latch engaged to a fastening hook of the access component; a communication interface disposed within the smart container; an audiovisual element disposed within the smart container; a sensor; and a processor disposed within the smart container and configured to: receive, via the communication interface, an authenticated request to access the compartment; in response to receiving the authenticated request, actuate the electromechanical latch to disengage the fastening hook of the hinged access component, thereby initiating a mechanical movement of the access component to make the compartment accessible; output, upon actuation of the electromechanical latch, an alert via the audiovisual element on the compartment to identify the container; confirm that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, thereby securing the compartment; determine, after confirming that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, a change in a local inventory based on a measurement provided by the sensor of the smart container; and update the local inventory in the non-volatile data store_responsive to determining the change in the local inventory. receive, via the communication interface, an authenticated request to access the compartment; in response to receiving the authenticated request, actuate the electromechanical latch to disengage the fastening hook of the hinged access component, thereby initiating a mechanical movement of the access component to make the compartment accessible; output, upon actuation of the electromechanical latch, an alert via the audiovisual element on the compartment to identify the container; confirm that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, thereby securing the compartment; determine, after confirming that the electromechanical latch has re-engaged with the fastening hook, a change in a local inventory based on a measurement provided by the sensor of the smart container; and update the local inventory in the non-volatile data store_responsive to determining the change in the local inventory.