Opening of the First Cashierless and Queue-less Store by Amazon

No cashiers, no salespeople, and no queues. This is the future of shopping in Amazon's style. On Monday, Amazon officially opened the first example of such a store, where common grocery items like milk are sold. Amazon employees had been using this store, located on the ground floor of the company's building in Seattle, on a trial basis for about a year. The opening of this store is another sign of Amazon's plan to expand its physical presence. Amazon has already established several bookstores and opened branches in chain stores like Kohl's, and last year it acquired the large grocery chain Whole Foods, which has over 470 branches. However, this new experimental store, known as 'Amazon Go', has a significant difference from grocery stores or local shops. Shoppers enter the store by scanning the 'Amazon Go' app on a special sensor, and when they take an item off the shelf, it is added to their virtual shopping list. If an item is returned to the shelf, it is automatically removed from the shopping list, and the cost of purchased items is charged to the buyer's credit card through the app when leaving the store. Amazon claims that using computer systems, sensors, and equipment that can calculate quickly, it can determine what each shopper takes from the shelves. According to the company, families can shop collectively with just one phone and by scanning the special app upon entering the store. Any item taken from the shelves by family members will automatically be added to the shopping list of the person who entered the store with their phone. The only issue with this system is that no one can assist others, as any item taken will be charged to that individual's account. This store, which is about 600 square meters in size, also offers prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and some products from the Whole Foods grocery chain are also sold there. Amazon announced in December 2016 that it would open the first store of this type in early 2017, but the store's opening was delayed by about a year due to further testing of its equipment and use by Amazon employees.