Amazon Go has dramatically reshaped the physical retail landscape since its limited debut in December 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The service's main value proposition is its cashierless system, eliminating the annoying checkout lines for shoppers. However, the service is currently limited to small stores that offer nothing more than snacks, groceries, and ready-to-eat meals.
Amazon might be planning to bring its cashierless checkout technology to larger stores, though. Citing sources familiar with the plan, The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon is testing the computer vision-based system at a space located in Seattle with a large-store format.
The sources believe that the e-commerce giant might be planning to apply the technology to Whole Foods, which it acquired last year for $13.7 billion. This is despite the company's previous statement saying that it had no plans to use the system at its grocery stores.
One of the technical barriers to this move is how the system will keep track of the items being picked by shoppers in larger spaces with higher ceilings and products stored behind glass. Another challenge could be how Amazon will introduce a cultural shift to shoppers who would prefer checkout counters with cashiers if, at all, it decides to use its no-checkout technology for Whole Foods in the future.
Source: The Wall Street Journal (Pay Wall)
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