Underneath the Tech World in Amazon-Go

By Ace Francis Prado on November 5, 2018

No more lines or cashiers at checkout; this is not your typical Target, Safeway, or 7-Eleven. Amazon-Go opened their fifth store in the Bay Area. The store is located at 300 California Street in San Francisco.

At the entrance, hungry shoppers and worker bees can scan their Amazon account through the Amazon-Go App and shop freely. Amazon-Go features ready-made lunches, snacks, frozen dinners, etc. According to “Curbed SF,” Amazon explains that hundreds of cameras and sensors will track customers’ movements by measuring body heat. At the end of the customer’s shopping experience, all items will get charged, and a digital receipt will appear.

via Pexels.com

Is stealing difficult?

 

Amazon has done a great job explaining the new concepts. However, the media questioned Amazon about whether the new style of technology can be a victim to theft issues in the near future. CNBC Tech conducted an experiment by having Deirdre Bosa walk out with a cup of yogurt. Eventually, she received a receipt and realized that the yogurt was not charged. She complained to Amazon-Go VP Giana Puerini about the issue. In response, Giana told CNBC Tech that “there is no error in the system. Just be confident!” Another journalist attempted the same experiment and failed.

YouTuber Tim Pool released a video “I proved stealing from Amazon Go is insanely easy.” Pool shows his viewers walking out and waiting for the electronic receipt. He received his electronic receipt and realized that Tim only got charged for mints. He did not reveal how he walked out with a bag of groceries. He mentions that Amazon will “figure out a new system” if a problem occurs.

What is the future?

Amazon is confident about the new technology. However, the media questions the negative impacts that could occur in the future. Big corporations like Walmart, Target, and Kroger will have to figure out a new system to keep up with the changes. The smaller businesses who are like deer in headlights will most likely to suffer. Forbes writer Chris Walton and YouTuber Pool argue “small businesses could file bankruptcy if cashier-less stores slowly become mainstream.” It will start by small food chains include Subway, Panera Bread, 7-Eleven, Safeway, etc since we live in a society that relies heavily on technology. Another question social media users are asking about is cashier jobs. According to Seattlepi, “nobody is creating a solution for 3.5 million cashier jobs.”

The questions are still coming!

Since the store has gone high-tech, why is Amazon-Go only open on weekdays from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. How about the weekends?

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