Shinsegae testing a cashierless grocery retail store concept

South Korean retail giant Shinsegae is developing a cashier-less grocery-store modeled on the Amazon Go concept.

The brand’s first automated store – to be branded Emart24 – will open at the company’s data centre in Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province as a pilot while the model is refined before being launched in a more high-profile location.

Just like at an Amazon Go, shoppers will be able to select products from shelves and walk out the door, the cost of the goods deducted from their pre-registered payment choice. Entry to the store will be granted by a QR code appearing on the customer’s smartphone and items will be automatically added to a virtual cart as they shop. About 30 cameras inside the store will monitor what items customers take from shelves – and those they put back.

The project is being developed by Shinsegae’s IT department which will oversee the operations, while stock will be managed by Emart24.

“The store will be a ground-breaking testbed where we apply and test various advanced technologies,” Kim Jang-wook, CEO of Shinsegae I&C said. “We plan to operate a store where customers can experience retail technology and enjoy real shopping.”

Technology used in the store will include artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and cloud point-of-sale systems.

After a trial run with employees which is currently underway, the store will be opened to the public on September 30.