Amazon may operate a cashless system that does not require a cash register at large supermarkets

Amazon Go , a physical store without cashiers that Amazon has been operating since 2018, operates a cashless system that applies image recognition technology. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that ``Amazon is testing this cashless system to operate not only in small convenience stores but also in large stores such as supermarkets.''

Amazon Tests Its Cashierless Technology for Bigger Stores - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-tests-its-cashierless-technology-for-bigger-stores-1543776320

Amazon is reportedly testing its cashier-less technology in larger stores - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/2/18122772/amazon-testing-larger-cashier-less-stores-report

Amazon opened its first cashierless store, Amazon Go, in Seattle in January 2018. Subsequently, they opened in Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco. Amazon Go uses a camera and software to detect items picked up by customers and allows them to pay using a smartphone app, eliminating any checkout process. You can understand how you can actually shop with Amazon Go by looking at the article below.

I tried a new ``cashier-free'' shopping experience at the cashier-less convenience store ``Amazon Go'' - GIGAZINE

According to WSJ, Amazon is testing the cashless system at ``large stores with large store areas.'' In June 2017, Amazon acquired the supermarket chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion (approximately 1.56 trillion yen). WSJ predicts that Amazon, which aims to make a full-scale entry into the offline retail market, will also operate Amazon Go's ``cashless system'' at Whole Foods stores.

Amazon acquires luxury supermarket 'Whole Foods' for record 1.5 trillion yen, making full-scale entry into offline retail market - GIGAZINE

However, Amazon Go's existing stores are at most convenience stores, not large stores like supermarkets. According to WSJ, when Amazon conducted an experiment in 2017, it found that if more than 20 people were in the store, it became extremely difficult to track each customer, causing the system to malfunction. . Amazon has improved its recognition software, but as a result, it seems that the full-scale store rollout has been postponed until 2018.If the cashless system is operated at large stores, Amazon will be able to overcome this problem. This means that it is completed.

According to WSJ, Amazon plans to open 3,000 Amazon Go stores by 2021. Amazon is expected to compete with major retailers such as Walmart and CVS/pharmacy with the rollout of Amazon Go. Of course, existing offline retail companies are also showing a stance against the appearance of Amazon Go, and in October 2018, Walmart announced that it had started operating a cashless system at 'Sam's Club' in Texas.