Don’t want to walk to the store to buy some goods? Just order them online and they will be delivered at your home! Nowadays online shopping is widespread: Amazon, eBay, Alibaba etc.
But the trend shows a comeback to physical shopping. For instance, Amazon is launching Amazon Go, a new futuristic physical store! Amazon is no more a pure play retailer.
What is Amazon Go?
In early December, Amazon introduced its new service: Amazon Go. Described as a “new kind of convenience store with no checkout required” , this physical store is equipped with the latest technologies in an 1,800 square feet (167 square meters) space .
With the Amazon Go app installed on your smartphone, which is synced to you Amazon account, all you have to do is to walk in with your phone, take the products you want and leave without lines nor checkouts. You are then charged for the items you picked up directly through your Amazon account.
How does it work?
This “Just Walk Out Shopping” experience is made possible by different types of technologies such as computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning. This technology detects when the products are taken or returned to the shelves, keeps track of them in a virtual cart and will charge you as soon as you leave the store.
Located in Seattle, the store is currently in Beta program and is only open to Amazon employees. Amazon hopes that it will open to the public in early 2017. If it is successful, Amazon will most likely be expanding stores across the United-States and later on, the world.
Drawbacks of the store
It may be faster, more pleasant for customers but there are some drawbacks. For instance, it will impact the employment market because no cashiers will be needed. Moreover, if there are cameras everywhere, it will stoke some privacy concerns.
Furthermore, your eating habits will be recorded as well as your personal data. If you do not mind giving all this information in exchange for speed or having Big Brother in your convenience store, then you will love this concept.
Take a look at Amazon Go introduction:
