Amazon’s integration of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) with its Just Walk Out technology marks a significant step forward in expanding the reach and capability of its cashierless retail model. Here’s how it works and what makes it stand out:
How Just Walk Out and RFID Work Together:
Traditionally, Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, first introduced in Amazon Go stores in 2018, relies on a combination of cameras, sensors, and computer vision to track what customers pick up from shelves. It uses advanced sensor fusion and AI-powered systems to recognize the items customers take and automatically charge them when they leave the store.
With RFID technology now incorporated into the system, Amazon can track items that don’t have easily identifiable packaging, such as clothing, accessories, and soft goods. Each item is equipped with an RFID tag, which contains a unique digital identifier. These tags are small, wireless, and can be attached to or embedded in products like apparel or hats.
When a customer enters a store using Just Walk Out, they can shop, try on items, and move freely through the store. As they exit through a special gate, RFID readers scan the tags on the items they’re carrying, ensuring accurate billing. The customer’s payment method (such as a credit card or Amazon One palm scan) is then charged, making the process seamless and without the need for manual checkouts.
Benefits of RFID with Just Walk Out:
- Wider Range of Products: The integration of RFID allows stores to offer non-packaged goods like clothes, accessories, and other soft goods. It is particularly useful in environments where items are frequently handled, folded, or tried on by customers.
- Faster and More Accurate Checkout: RFID technology enhances the system’s accuracy when identifying items as customers leave the store. Unlike vision-based systems, RFID tags are read regardless of how the item is handled, folded, or stored, which is crucial for items like clothing.
- Improved Inventory Management: RFID technology has long been used in retail for inventory tracking. By combining this with Just Walk Out, stores can simultaneously track stock levels in real-time, reducing inventory errors and theft.
- Security and Loss Prevention: Each item has a unique RFID tag, making it easier to detect unauthorized removals or theft. Since the system tracks every product precisely, there’s minimal risk of items leaving the store without being billed.
- Smooth Shopping Experience: Customers enjoy a frictionless experience, especially when purchasing non-standard items like clothing. They can try on apparel, make selections, and leave the store without interacting with a cashier or using a traditional self-checkout.
Real-World Applications:
Amazon is already using the RFID-enhanced Just Walk Out technology in locations such as the Seattle Seahawks’ Pro Shop Outlet at Lumen Field and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. These venues feature a mix of clothing, sports merchandise, and accessories, where the RFID technology significantly enhances the ease of purchase.
How Customers Use It:
- Entry: Customers enter the store by scanning a credit card, their Amazon app, or their palm via Amazon One (a biometric palm-scanning system).
- Shopping: Shoppers browse items, handling, trying on, or even taking items into fitting rooms without worrying about checkout lines.
- Exit and Payment: When leaving the store, RFID readers at the exit gate automatically detect the items the customer has taken. The corresponding charges are then applied to the customer’s payment method, whether through a card or Amazon One.
Collaboration with Avery Dennison:
Amazon has partnered with Avery Dennison, a global leader in RFID technology, to supply the RFID tags and sensors needed for this system. Avery Dennison specializes in digital identification solutions that are already widely used in retail supply chains, making it a natural fit for this expansion.
Global Impact and Future Growth:
Amazon’s RFID-enhanced Just Walk Out tech is being adopted in more than 70 Amazon-owned stores and 85 third-party locations across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. These include not only grocery stores but also venues like airports, sports arenas, theme parks, and college campuses.
The integration of RFID suggests a broader shift in how Amazon plans to scale this technology into new retail sectors, including fashion and specialty stores. This move could set a precedent for other retailers to follow, potentially reshaping the future of in-store shopping.
