Online giant, AMAZON is set to open 30 stores in the UK. The company has launched its plans to open 10 across the country but is now rumoured to open 20 more.
The till-less grocery store, known as AMAZON Fresh, opened its first store outside of the US, in London, in March this year. After its recent success it has decided to expand, opening its second physical store next to Wembley Stadium, next week.
So how does it work?
AMAZON have adopted the phrase, ‘Just Walk Out’. Customers scan their AMAZON QR code on their phone when they enter and are billed as soon as they leave. Using monitors and depth sensors, the store can tell if you put anything in your bag or change your mind and put it back.
This has raised privacy concerns by some of the public. But AMAZON ensures that no facial recognition is used and that it is no different than shopping online.
As the store, runs on a till-less niche, the question has to be raised on how this effects jobs and careers for people working in retail. According to research by the Royal Society For the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, over 100,000 jobs as sales assistants or checkout operators previously taken by women have gone in the last seven years. This is due to the preference of self service checkouts and has most likely increased to avoid contact whilst shopping during the pandemic.
But AMAZON states, ‘Our great team of associates are an important part of the experience at Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh. You’ll see our associates greeting shoppers at the door, restocking shelves, answering questions, and making product recommendations. We’ve simply shifted how our associates spend their time so they can help deliver a great experience for shoppers.’
The store has proved popular with millennials and Gen Z who are notorious for online and contact free shopping. Who see the store as an opportunity to get out of the house, shop but in a stress free and unpersonal environment. The new London store has been trending on TikTok with influencers showing their first trip to the store, like @delihicious_body and @angel.turley describing it as ‘such a cool experience.
Although AMAZON is planning to open 30 more stores in the UK, this automated service could become the new norm as a startup company in Lisbon, ‘Sensei‘ has secured seed money of round $6.5 million. The company plans to use a blend of cameras, sensors, and AI to both new and existing stores around the world.
