Standard Cognition dismisses new Amazon Go plans

Amazon is looking to bring the technology that runs its Go cashierless stores to other retailers, according to media reports.

But this will be a hard sell for the e-commerce giant, according to Michael Suswal, Co-founder and COO, Standard Cognition.

"Nearly all the retailers we talk with see Amazon as the competition. And most of the opportunity in the autonomous checkout space is in retrofitting existing stores - something Amazon really can't do due to the complexity of their system,” he says.

“You really have to build your store around Amazon Go, not the other way around. We're finding that the majority of retailers don't want gates, turnstiles and sensored shelves, which really limit their options for store layout."

Whammy!

Last month, we reported that US baseball team Worcester Red Sox was partnering with Standard Cognition to open what was pitched as the first autonomous checkout store in a pro sports and entertainment venue.

This will be stocked with snacks, drinks and souvenirs, and will leverage Standard Cognition’s artificial intelligence and machine vision technology to allow customers to shop and pay without any scanning, waiting in line, or stopping to checkout. The store will be situated at the new Polar Park venue, scheduled to open in April 2021.

“We are pleased to be the first to introduce this innovative technology at a ballpark,” said Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Larry Lucchino, now Principal Owner and Chairman of the Worcester Red Sox. “We have long sought to reduce time spent waiting in lines in our venues and Standard Cognition’s autonomous checkout technology will do just that.”