Bill Dudziak swaps PROs for Amazon Just Walk Out Technology
Bill Dudziak has taken on the role of Pricing Principal at Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology unit.
He joins from PROs, whose AI-based solutions power digital commerce offerings, where he served as Lead Strategic Consultant.
Dudziak’s CV also includes stints at Whole Foods Market as Vice President (Global Executive Coordinator) Merchandising Operations, and Director - Pricing Strategy and Analytics as The Home Depot.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “In March, I made the difficult decision to leave PROs.”
“Amazon Just Walk Out Technology is a small but growing group tasked with bringing frictionless technologies to the broader market, including Just Walk Out and Amazon One (biometric screening).”
“In Seattle, I was able to see these technologies installed in Climate Pledge Arena and Amazon Fresh. Our technologies help alleviate the frustrations that come with waiting in line.”
He concluded: “Jennifer Maul (General Manager - Amazon Just Walk Out Technology), thank you for inviting me to join the team. This is such an amazing opportunity combining talented individuals and cutting-edge technology, backed by an amazing company.”
Amazon Fresh stores
Last month, Amazon opened an Amazon Fresh store in Kensington, London, powered by Just Walk Out technology.
Located at 138 Kensington High Street, this is the 17th such location in the UK, lining up alongside the likes of Southwark, Camden, Ealing, White City Canary Wharf and Holborn Chancery Lane.
To shop, customers scan the QR code from their Amazon app, buy what they need, and walk out.
Amazon Fresh stores offer the likes of the e-commerce giant’s private food brand ‘by Amazon’.
They also feature an Amazon Hub counter where customers can pick up or return items purchased on Amazon.co,uk.
Further openings are planned in the greater London area, with reports suggesting Bankside could be next.
Whole Foods Market
Amazon is now offering the Just Walk Out checkout experience in its Whole Foods Market division.
It has gone live with the autonomous tech at a new 21,500-sq.-ft. Whole Foods store in Washington, D.C.’s Glover Park neighbourhood.
The company also licences the tech to third-party retailers, including WHSmith and Sainsbury’s.
Late last year the latter became the first customer outside the US.
Its SmartShop Pick & Go store opened to the public in November, after being tested out by Sainsbury’s staff members.
Sainsbury’s said that the Holborn store was selected to use Just Walk Out technology as it is “primarily focused on offering on-the-go food and drink to busy local workers who want to complete their shopping as quickly as possible”.
Clo Moriarty, Sainsbury’s Retail and Digital Director, said: “We are always looking at new ways to make shopping easy and convenient for our customers.”
“We are excited about launching SmartShop Pick & Go, which offers contactless, checkout-free shopping to our customers and are looking forward to hearing their feedback.”
