More than 1,000 people followed every step of the buyer in Amazon Fresh.
Amazon has decided to stop using Just Walk Out technology in all its Fresh grocery stores located in the United States. This is reported by the publication The Information .
Just Walk Out is a system for retail stores that allows customers to make purchases without having to go through traditional checkout processes. It relies on the use of cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to track which items customers take or return, and automatically withdraws funds from their accounts as they leave the store.
However, since the introduction of the technology, numerous problems have arisen. Despite Amazon's claims about using advanced developments in the field of artificial intelligence, the actual operation of the system was largely based on human labor. As noted, more than 1,000 employees in India monitored video streams from cameras to ensure the accuracy of calculations, which raised questions about the effectiveness of such an "innovation" in comparison with traditional methods of cash registers.
In addition, the installation and maintenance of the necessary equipment required huge costs. This is probably why Just Walk Out was used in only half of the Fresh stores in the country. It was not uncommon for customers to experience various inconveniences, including delays in sending receipts and errors in orders.
Of particular concern were privacy issues related to the ability to collect biometric information about customers. A class-action lawsuit was filed in New York accusing Amazon of collecting biometric data without properly notifying consumers, which violates state laws on biometric identifiers.
Amazon has tried to expand the use of Just Walk Out by offering the technology to other retailers, but has met with limited interest, partly due to the perception of the company as a competitor and requirements for space features such as high ceilings for installing cameras and sensors.
Despite moving away from the technology in the US, Amazon will continue to use it in the UK and at the same time plans to update its approach to food retailing in the US market. In particular, the company is going to introduce smart Dash carts equipped with sensors and scales for tracking purchases in real time, which will allow customers to avoid the standard payment procedure at the checkout.
Amazon has decided to stop using Just Walk Out technology in all its Fresh grocery stores located in the United States. This is reported by the publication The Information .
Just Walk Out is a system for retail stores that allows customers to make purchases without having to go through traditional checkout processes. It relies on the use of cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to track which items customers take or return, and automatically withdraws funds from their accounts as they leave the store.
However, since the introduction of the technology, numerous problems have arisen. Despite Amazon's claims about using advanced developments in the field of artificial intelligence, the actual operation of the system was largely based on human labor. As noted, more than 1,000 employees in India monitored video streams from cameras to ensure the accuracy of calculations, which raised questions about the effectiveness of such an "innovation" in comparison with traditional methods of cash registers.
In addition, the installation and maintenance of the necessary equipment required huge costs. This is probably why Just Walk Out was used in only half of the Fresh stores in the country. It was not uncommon for customers to experience various inconveniences, including delays in sending receipts and errors in orders.
Of particular concern were privacy issues related to the ability to collect biometric information about customers. A class-action lawsuit was filed in New York accusing Amazon of collecting biometric data without properly notifying consumers, which violates state laws on biometric identifiers.
Amazon has tried to expand the use of Just Walk Out by offering the technology to other retailers, but has met with limited interest, partly due to the perception of the company as a competitor and requirements for space features such as high ceilings for installing cameras and sensors.
Despite moving away from the technology in the US, Amazon will continue to use it in the UK and at the same time plans to update its approach to food retailing in the US market. In particular, the company is going to introduce smart Dash carts equipped with sensors and scales for tracking purchases in real time, which will allow customers to avoid the standard payment procedure at the checkout.
