WHSmith taps Amazon Just Walk Out tech for checkout-free store launch
WHSmith is set to open its first checkout-free store in the coming weeks.
This will be based inside one of New York’s three major international airports and will feature Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which was pioneered at the Amazon Go offering in the States.
The store will be WHSmith branded, as opposed to the retailer’s other fascias such as InMotion and MRG.
Amazon Fresh
Amazon is gearing up to open an Amazon Fresh checkout-free location in Chingford, London.
No news on the exact launch date. But we can reveal that this will be the e-commerce giant’s eighth such UK convenience store to feature Just Walk Out tech.
The other six are in Camden, Ealing, Wembley Park, White City, Canary Wharf and Dalston, whilst a seventh one is due to launch in Holborn soon.
Opening hours are from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week.
Customers use the Amazon app to enter and put their phone away and shop for what they need. At the end of their visit, they can head for the exit, with no need to stand in a queue or check out.
Amazon is planning further openings in the greater London area, with reports suggesting Bankside could be next, although it has not revealed exact numbers or locations.
Let battle commence!
The Holborn store is in close proximity to Tesco’s first ever high street checkout-free offering.
Named GetGo, this made its debut last month.
Tesco has deployed its Trigo powered version of the Just Walk Out offering at Holborn.
Tapping AI and computer vision technology, the solution enables shoppers to walk into a store, check in via a QR code, select items for purchase and, erm, just walk out.
Kevin Tindall, Managing Director at Tesco Convenience, said last month: "We are constantly looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and our latest innovation offers a seamless checkout for customers on the go, helping them to save a bit more time.”
"This is currently just a one store trial, but we're looking forward to seeing how our customers respond."
