The Tech Behind Amazon Go
Amazon is bringing its cashier-less Amazon Go stores to the suburbs.
First unveiled in 2018, unlike most shops, there are no registers or cashiers. You walk in, pick out what you want, and walk out. Amazon calls it a “Just Walk Out” shopping experience. The stores focus on everyday goods, basic groceries, ready-to-eat food, alcohol, drinks, and snacks. Essentially making them an even more convenient convenience store. These new more suburban locations are coming at a time when many employees are now choosing to work from home spending less time in city centers and more time at home in the suburbs. adding to the pool of potential customers for the new locations.
Amazon Go locations are equipped with a mindboggling amount of tech.
Using their Amazon Go app, customers scan their phones at the entrance allowing Amazon’s artificial intelligence system to identify each user. Then, using cameras littered throughout the store in combination with computer vision technology and additional hidden sensors, Amazon's AI is able to track exactly where you are in the store, what items you pick up, and what items you may put back. Once you're done shopping you can just walk right out of the front door. After leaving the store, Amazon will automatically charge your card on file only for the items you took.
If Amazon does charge you for something you didn't take,
then you can just go into the app swipe left on the item to remove it from your receipt and Amazon will automatically process a refund with no questions asked.
With their pilot locations open for 4 years now Amazon is confident in the technology; hence their plan to start expanding to new locations in Mill Creek, Washington and Los Angeles with more to come.
