Amazon Tests Its Cashierless Technology for Bigger Stores (wsj.com)

Online giant tries to overcome challenges caused by retail spaces with higher ceilings, more products. From a report: Amazon.com is testing its cashierless checkout technology for bigger stores [alternative source] , according to people familiar with the matter. If successful, the strategy would further challenge brick-and-mortar retailers racing to make their businesses more convenient. The online retail giant is experimenting with the technology in Seattle in a larger space formatted like a big store, the people said. The systems track what shoppers pick from shelves and charges them automatically when they leave a store.

Although the technology functions well in its current small-store format, it is harder to use it in bigger spaces with higher ceilings and more products, one of the people said, meaning it could take time to roll out the systems at more larger stores. It is unclear whether Amazon intends to use the technology for Whole Foods, although that is the most likely application if executives can make it work, according to the people. Amazon has previously said it has no plans to add the technology to Whole Foods.

Comments

Re:May their isles all be shat upon

[rossdee]

Stores have aisles
Seas have isles

Re:all we need now is a shopping bot

[Kjella]

That's not really the case -- there were markets where food/food ingredients were accessible to customers.

Indeed. And the clerk would bring items you were considering to buy / suggested products to the front desk for you to inspect too, customers weren't that in the dark. But it wasn't anything like today with shopping and check-out, even at the market you'd talk to the guy/gal behind the stand and tell what you want and they'd take payment then hand it over. The idea that we'd browse the shelves and pick goods ourselves is actually fairly new. Heck, here in Norway it's only 19 years ago since we allowed that for wine and liquor. When I started drinking you had to check the catalog, go to the counter and tell the clerk what you wanted and they'd bring it to the front desk, it sounds like something from 1899 instead of 1999 but that's how it was.

I don't think I'd really miss it if you could do it asynchronously though, if I could just shop electronically and have the bags ready to go or delivered at the door it's fine. What made it antiquated at the store was that you'd say what you want then stand/sit around waiting for them to get back to you. It wasted your time while you were paying for somebody else's time to walk around and find it. Granted, they knew where pretty much everything was so it was fairly efficient, but really I don't spend much more time shopping at the grocery store than I'd do picking the items online.