Autonomous tech startup AiFi boosts international presence

AiFi is providing the technology for the first ever autonomous gas station convenience store, situated in Silicon Valley. It is also powering a retrofitted, larger convenience store on a residential street in Shanghai.

This brings the startup’s presence to three continents, joining eight other stores in the US and Europe.

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In Silicon Valley, a Loop Neighborhood store sitting in a Shell gas station is based on AiFi’s modular NanoStore template, stocking 150 SKUs. Open 24/7 starting in January, it will provide customers with instant receipts on exit.

It is part of a 30+ chain of Loop Northern California convenience-type stores typically associated with a gas station. AiFi and Loop plan to open more NanoStores in the coming months, and also deploy the former’s Autonomous Store Platform to Loop’s existing Neighbourhood outlets.

The Shanghai store is owned by a local chain in the city. It is equipped with the Autonomous Store Platform, which includes multi-camera, multi-person tracking, real-time product recognition and live inventory tracking.

At 400 square feet, it features more than 800 SKUs. For all products (aside from age-restricted items) customers use their WeChat app to enter, grab items and walk out. Receipts are automatically generated.

“We are demonstrating the viability of bringing autonomous store technology to retailers of various sizes,” says Steve Gu, Co-founder and CEO, AiFi. “We’re very excited to be introducing our solution to various store formats so more customers can enjoy the autonomous shopping experience of tomorrow today.”