Amazon looks to expand check-out free concept without cashier
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Amazon appears set to open its second and third queue free grocery stores in Chicago and San Francisco, a sign that the e-commerce giant is ready to start scaling up its wildly successful supermarket concept.
After launching its first Amazon Go store in Seattle earlier this year the company has begun posting job openings for store managers in both cities, US media reported overnight.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Geekwire that the company is opening the locations, although no timetable was provided.
The grocery concept garnered global attention when it was unveiled in late 2016, primarily because the store has no check-out and instead uses a range of intelligent cameras to charge customers automatically when they pick up items and walk out of the store.
It has been dubbed as Amazon’s attempt to re-invent the supermarket amid the company’s ongoing efforts to claim a greater share of the global grocery pie.
Expansion is a signal that Amazon believes it is ready to start scaling up the concept after navigating a range of technical challenges to open the store in 2017.
Last year the Seattle-based business purchased grocery giant Whole Foods in the US to supercharge its efforts in the category, but it appears the Go concept is being kept separate from that investment.
Questions & Answers
Q.Where are the new check-out free Amazon stores expected to open?
Where are the new check-out free Amazon stores expected to open?
Amazon appears set to open its second and third queue-free grocery stores in Chicago and San Francisco. This move indicates the e-commerce giant is ready to scale up its supermarket concept after the initial store in Seattle.
Q.When was the Amazon Go concept first unveiled to the public?
When was the Amazon Go concept first unveiled to the public?
The grocery concept garnered global attention when it was unveiled in late 2016. It was primarily noted for its lack of traditional check-outs, instead relying on intelligent cameras to automatically charge customers for items.
Q.How does the Amazon Go store technology work to charge customers?
How does the Amazon Go store technology work to charge customers?
The stores use a range of intelligent cameras to automatically charge customers. This system allows shoppers to pick up items and walk out of the store without needing to go through a traditional check-out process or cashier.
Q.Is the Amazon Go concept being integrated with the Whole Foods acquisition?
Is the Amazon Go concept being integrated with the Whole Foods acquisition?
No, it appears the Go concept is being kept separate from the Whole Foods investment. Amazon purchased grocery giant Whole Foods last year to boost its efforts in the category, but the two ventures seem distinct.
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