Amazon Ditches 'Just Walk Out' Checkouts at Its Grocery Stores

🌈 Abstract

Amazon is phasing out its checkout-less grocery stores with "Just Walk Out" technology, and is instead moving towards Dash Carts and self-checkout counters. The Just Walk Out technology, which relied on cameras and sensors to track what customers were leaving the store with, faced challenges with accuracy and required a large number of human reviewers to validate purchases. Amazon is keeping the Just Walk Out technology in a small number of stores in the UK and some Amazon Go convenience stores, but is focusing on more reliable solutions like Dash Carts and self-checkout for its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the US.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Amazon's Shift Away from Just Walk Out Technology

1. What is the main reason Amazon is moving away from its Just Walk Out technology?

• The Just Walk Out technology faced challenges with accuracy, requiring a large number of human reviewers to validate purchases. Over 700 out of 1,000 Just Walk Out sales required human review as of 2022, which missed Amazon's internal goals.

2. What are the new technologies Amazon is implementing in its Amazon Fresh stores?

• Amazon is moving towards Dash Carts, which are shopping carts with embedded scanners and screens that allow customers to checkout as they shop.
• Amazon Fresh stores will also feature self-checkout counters for customers who are not Amazon members.

3. Where is Amazon keeping the Just Walk Out technology?

• Amazon is keeping the Just Walk Out technology in a small number of Fresh stores in the United Kingdom, and some of its Amazon Go convenience stores.

[02] Amazon's Grocery Expansion Efforts

1. How many Amazon Fresh stores are currently operating?

• Amazon Fresh, the e-commerce giant's grocery store first launched in 2007, has just over 40 locations around the United States.

2. What is Amazon's goal with its grocery store expansion?

• Amazon is trying to further break into the grocery space to grow into another billion-dollar market. Though it owns Whole Foods, the e-commerce giant still doesn't compete with food goliaths like Walmart, Costco, and Kroger.

3. How does Amazon's move away from expensive tests like Just Walk Out technology relate to its grocery expansion plans?

• Amazon's push away from expensive tests like Just Walk Out may be a sign the company is looking to further expand its presence as a supermarket by focusing on more reliable and cost-effective solutions like Dash Carts and self-checkout.