Amazon has launched Canada’s first in-office Just Walk Out technology store at its Toronto Tech Hub, located at the YYZ14 office at 120 Bremner Boulevard. These are the super cool stores where you just walk in, grab your stuff and there’s no need to checkout as billing happens automatically.
The store allows Amazon employees to grab food and beverages without the need to checkout, using advanced AI, computer vision, machine learning, and sensor fusion technologies, plus a tonne of cameras. A second Just Walk Out store is planned for Amazon’s YYZ18 office at 18 York Street later this year.
To enter, employees use their credit card at the gate, which triggers a virtual shopping session that tracks items taken or returned to shelves. When finished, employees simply leave, and their credit card is charged automatically.
“Just Walk Out technology has been a game-changer for shoppers around the world, removing the part of the shopping experience they enjoy the least – standing in line to pay – and allowing them to get on with their day more quickly,” said Jon Jenkins, Vice President, Just Walk Out technology, in a statement to iPhone in Canada.
“It’s exciting to bring this innovative technology to more of our employees, and we look forward to continuing to expand to new locations across Canada.”
Also, Amazon plans to expand its Toronto office space by adding three new floors and 79,000 square feet at the YYZ18 office by late 2024, supporting its growing tech workforce of 3,500 employees in the city.
As for other Just Walk Out stores in Canada? They are located in Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Earlier today, Amazon Canada also announced a new atrium at its Vancouver Tech Hub.
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I feel like this is a tech nobody is asking for. Considering how much grocery stores like Safeway, Save-On, Loblaws etc. make pricing errors, I have little confidence that there won’t be frequent incidences of double or incorrect charges. I actually like the check out process, as it allows the customer the opportunity to make sure they are not being incorrectly charged, and to rectify the issue immediately if so. If you have to open a whole case about it after the fact, it’s often not worth the effort at that point.