Amazon's Largest Unmanned Supermarket Opens, Cloud Checkout, Grab and Go

Amazon's large unmanned supermarket Go Grocery opened in Seattle. Using artificial intelligence technologies such as deep learning and computer vision, the supermarket has created a self-service shopping experience without cashiers. However, apart from a larger area and more product types, it seems to be no different from previous unmanned convenience stores.

February 25,The first Amazon Go Grocery opened in Seattle.This is also Amazon's first large-scale cashier-free supermarket.

Like Amazon's 25 existing Amazon Go unmanned retail stores, Go Grocery uses cameras and sensors to track consumers as they enter the store, record what items they take, and automatically check out.

Although the technology is similar, the supermarket has also made some targeted upgrades and improvements.

Products can be picked and placed at will, and automatic checkout is done in the cloud

The supermarket is located near Amazon's headquarters on Capitol Hill in Seattle.The shopping space is 10,400 square feet (966 square meters).That’s five times the size of the Amazon Go store that first opened in January 2018.

As a result, this is Amazon’s largest use of its Just walk Out  A place of technology.

Many customers have the impression that this new supermarket does not accept cash, has very few employees, and allows customers to take their orders as they please.

Like the Amazon Go convenience stores, shoppers must download the Amazon Go app before entering the store, then scan a QR code through the app at the store entrance to enter, and then continue shopping as usual.

The supermarket stocks about 5,000 items.They have everything from fresh produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, household essentials, and wine.

Items that customers take from the shelves are tracked by cameras in the ceiling and sensors on the shelves and then added to the shopper's virtual cart.

If you change your mind about an item and put it back, it will automatically be removed from your shopping cart.

When a customer leaves the store, their shopping cart is automatically charged using their linked payment card and a receipt is sent to them.

Therefore, customers do not have to wait in line to pay, and store clerks can free up their time to handle other business.

Expansion of Just Walk Out technology

Amazon Go Grocery “Just Walk Out” cashless checkout technology appeared in 2016 with the launch of Amazon Go.The technologyUsing a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision and data pulled from multiple sensors, it can detect when a product is taken away or returned to a shelf.And track it in a virtual shopping cart to ensure customers only pay for what they pick up.

Amazon said it has made some improvements compared to its Amazon Go convenience stores.

For the supermarket, they had to update the machine learning algorithms driving their system to account for issues such as multiple customers rushing to buy different fresh foods, or refrigerator doors fogging up after being opened.

In addition, there are some changes in strategy.Since there is no cashier, each item is priced individually.For example, fresh products such as fruits, vegetables, and meat do not need to be weighed. Bananas are 19 cents each and avocados are 49 cents each.

Sources said Amazon plans to open 3,000 Go stores by 2021. However, Amazon declined to comment on the number.

Will it be the unified model for supermarkets in the future?

As soon as the new store opened, many people went to try it out and published "evaluation reports".

Some people said that the shopping experience is very smart and convenient, and artificial intelligence provides a completely contactless shopping experience and is very accurate.

Rex Farrand, 36, said he liked the small selection.Because it doesn’t make people feel stressed and appreciate the convenience of an automated system.

He thinks this is what the future looks like. "Here, I can come and go quickly and freely, without relying on a cashier or a cashier," Franc said.

But some people don't seem to be interested in this model.

Shelton, who is retired, said he lives near three other grocery stores, but the Amazon store would not be his first choice.

He said,He prefers traditional grocery stores.There he could see each item being jumbled up by the clerk and discuss whether the price tags were mixed up, which was more lifelike.

So, will such unmanned supermarkets be the trend of the future?

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