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Amazon will open its first cash register-free store in Seattle today, near its main office. The trial with its own employees will now be extended to the general public.
Cameras and sensors
It was no secret that Amazon was working on a cash register-free store, with some competitors doing likewise and even some perhaps even surpassing Amazon’s goals. Amazon Go was supposed to open its doors in January 2017, but the company postponed the deadline one year. Now, it is ready for a major launch.
Customers that want to shop in Amazon Go, will need to install the app on their smartphone and provide Amazon with a certain amount of information. They will subsequently need to scan a unique QR code to get in the store. Cameras and sensors will then track the consumer throughout the store and detect which items he places in his shopping cart. Once ready, the customer can simply exit the store, because payments are handled automatically.
No plans for expansion
For the time being, Amazon has no plans for large-scale implementation of its Amazon Go technology, even though the general audience has expressed a lot of interest.
“The last year has been about working the kinks out of the system as Amazon staffers shop. Now that it will be open to the general public, the goal is to learn more about how to make it work for everyone”, Amazon Go vice-president Gianna Puerini told USA Today.
