Amazon has continued to expand its innovative cashier-less shopping concept with Amazon Go stores. First launched in Seattle in 2016, these stores use a combination of computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning to enable a seamless shopping experience. Customers enter the store using the Amazon Go app, pick up items, and leave without the need to go through a traditional checkout process. The technology automatically detects what items are taken or returned and charges the customer’s Amazon account accordingly.
By 2019, Amazon Go stores had expanded beyond their initial Seattle location, opening several more in major cities including Chicago and San Francisco. The stores, typically ranging between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, offered a variety of products, from fresh groceries to prepared meals and snacks. The rapid expansion underscored Amazon’s commitment to redefining the retail experience through technology, aiming to streamline the shopping process and eliminate traditional checkout lines.
This year also saw Amazon Go’s introduction to larger formats, including Amazon Go Grocery stores, which offered a broader selection of items and catered to more extensive grocery shopping needs. The success and growing number of Amazon Go stores highlighted the potential for cashier-less technology to revolutionize the retail landscape.
