Starting this week, Amazon Fresh customers in Bellevue, Wash., will have the option to pay in-store or skip the checkouts at a new full-size supermarket. Whether you’re doing the weekly shop or grabbing a pastry on the go, the supermarket makes it easy to bypass the register via Just Walk Out technology.
Using a combination of computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning, Just Walk Out “adds convenience to customers’ grocery shopping experience by giving them the option to come in, pick up what they want, and skip the checkout when they’re done,” according to an Amazon blog announcement.
Visitors to the new Bellevue store will be prompted at the entrance to choose Just Walk Out shopping or traditional checkout lanes. Opt for the former, and you’ll need to scan the QR code in your Amazon mobile app, use Amazon One to scan your palm, or insert a credit or debit card linked to your Amazon account. Once inside, feel free to shop as usual. Anything you take off the shelf is automatically added to your virtual cart; anything you put back on the shelf is automatically removed from your virtual cart. To exit the store, simply scan or insert your entry method again.
“Bringing Just Walk Out technology to a full-size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue showcases the technology’s continued ability to scale and adapt to new environments and selection,” Dilip Kumar, vice president of physical retail and technology at Amazon, said in a statement. “I’m thrilled it’ll help even more customers enjoy an easier and faster way to shop and can’t wait to get their feedback on this latest Just Walk Out offering.”
Early tests at Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and third-party retailers have proved positive, garnering “fantastic” feedback from customers who note that “skipping the checkout allows them to save time and reduce contact in stores,” Kumar added. Alternatively, customers who want a traditional shopping experience can enter Amazon Fresh through designated gates and use one of the staffed checkout lanes.
The first Amazon Fresh store opened in August 2020; the company now runs 13 locations across California, Illinois, and Virginia. The latest addition is scheduled to open Thursday, June 17, in The Marketplace at Factoria in Bellevue, Wash. To celebrate the grand opening, Amazon is offering a slew of deals, including gift cards, tote bags, and free samples, not to mention a live DJ and the chance to win $250 to spend on the e-commerce site.
