The Hudson Group plans to add Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to some of the popular convenience stores the chain operates at more than 1,000 North American airports, train stations and other landmarks and tourist destinations.
“Today’s traveler is progressively more connected, mobile, and time sensitive — and they have higher expectations for convenience, safety, and speed during their shopping experiences,” Brian Quinn, Hudson’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in announcing the plan. “The addition of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology perfectly complements our current digital footprint, providing travelers with yet another quick, secure, and contactless shopping experience that meets their needs.”
Hudson stores typically cater to on-the-go travelers who grab snacks, magazines other convenience items before hopping on planes, trains or other forms of transportation.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology will allow such customers to quickly enter Hudson stores, take products off shelves and walk out without standing in lines. The Just Walk Out system will automatically charge consumers’ credit cards, with receipts available by email.
“The elimination of checkout-line friction for shoppers [will] appeal to both the time-sensitive traveler and the deal-seeker alike, as purchases can be made at the speed and convenience that best fits their travel schedule,” Hudson said in a statement.
The chain plans to add the technology this quarter to its store at the Dallas Love Field airport, then intends to add it to other shops across North America as time goes on.
Amazon uses the Just Walk Out technology at more than two dozen Amazon Go and Amazon Go Grocery stores, and also licenses it to other retailers.
“We’re excited to work with Hudson as they innovate in the travel industry and bring convenient, efficient experiences to travelers,” said Cameron Janes, Amazon’s vice president of physical retail. “While people are already accustomed to getting what they need on the go at a Hudson store, the addition of Just Walk Out technology will help busy travelers at Dallas Love Field Airport avoid waiting in line to check out so they can grab what they need and make their flight faster.”
Checkout-Less Retail Is Becoming A Reality
Hudson’s move comes at a time when checkout-free retail is beginning to take off.
Earlier this week, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions rolled out a new Elera IT system for retailers and B2B companies. CEO Rance Poehler and others on his team told PYMNTS’ Karen Webster that the new system aims to be “Amazon Go at scale.”
Combining a new cloud-enabled solution of point of sale (POS), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and more, the system will allow for checkout-less retail and some 30 other “microservices” to bring stores into the digital-first economy.
Yevgeni Tsirulnik, vice president of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ Digital Platform Products, said Elera can help retailers convert the traditional system of standing in line at checkout at the front of the store into a “walk-out” version similar to what Amazon Go offers.
“It’s up to the retailer to decide where and how they’re going to [do] checkout,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be the point of sale. You can check out on your mobile. You can check out without touching your mobile. Or you can check out in the environment where all of your items are being added and you’re checking out [via] the front end. Basically, that will transform the way the store looks like.”
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