Amazon is unveiling plans to dismantle the cashierless store management technology known as Just Walk Out, where customers can simply pick up items and walk out of the store. This innovative concept is being rolled out at Amazon Fresh stores.
Reports from The Information suggest that while the Just Walk Out technology may appear to be automatic, using cameras and sensors in stores to detect items and process payments upon exiting, Amazon has faced customer complaints about frequent billing errors. Additionally, behind the scenes, Amazon has employed around 1,000 workers in India to double-check the accuracy of operations from video footage along with the installed devices. It seems that the operational costs of this technology outweigh the benefits of employing store staff.
Nevertheless, Amazon is not completely abandoning Just Walk Out altogether. The company continues to utilize this technology in some stores in the US and the UK but will be phasing it out from larger chain stores and replacing it with the Dash Smart technology. Dash Smart features scanners and small screens attached to carts, allowing customers to pick up items, scan them, view their purchase list accurately, and skip the payment process. Yet, this system will still have a designated number of in-store employees for further verification.
Source: Engadget
TLDR: Amazon is phasing out the cashierless Just Walk Out technology due to high operational costs and customer complaints, replacing it with Dash Smart technology in selected stores for a more streamlined shopping experience.
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