India to have first cashier-free store
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The first automated, cashier-free store in India has opened its doors.
Watasale, which has opened in Kerala, has no staff on sales or cashier duty and customers are not expected to scan products or wait in line. Shoppers carrying their smartphones can walk in and out of the store without needing to check out any items for sale. The store’s AI allows customers to purchase from the store by scanning a QR code.
“Back in 2015, it was a time when machine learning and artificial intelligence was really coming out,” explains the firm’s COO Richu Jose. “We knew any segments can be disrupted using this technology. If you look at the market structure, the retail segment was still following the age-old technologies. We found it as a ripe ground for innovation and disruptive technologies.”
Chief marketing officer Rajesh Malamal said that the firm believes “our systems are more economical and scalable in comparison to Amazon’s solution”.
Questions & Answers
Q.How do customers complete their purchases in this new store without scanning items?
How do customers complete their purchases in this new store without scanning items?
Customers can walk in and out of the store without needing to check out any items for sale. The store's AI allows them to purchase by scanning a QR code with their smartphones.
Q.What was the firm's motivation for developing this cashier-free store technology?
What was the firm's motivation for developing this cashier-free store technology?
The firm saw that machine learning and AI could disrupt segments, and the retail sector was still using older technologies. They identified it as a prime area for innovation and disruptive technologies.
Q.Where is this first automated, cashier-free store located in India?
Where is this first automated, cashier-free store located in India?
The first automated, cashier-free store, named Watasale, has opened in Kerala. This is India's initial foray into this type of retail technology.
Q.How does Watasale's system compare to Amazon's solution, according to the company?
How does Watasale's system compare to Amazon's solution, according to the company?
According to the firm's chief marketing officer, Rajesh Malamal, they believe their systems are more economical and scalable when compared to Amazon's solution.
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