Amazon’s innovative “Just Walk Out” technology will continue to operate in various independent stores even after the discontinuation of the Amazon One palm-recognition service in June. Customers will now have the option to use cards or tap their phones for payment, as the hand-scanning feature will be disabled.
Amazon has confirmed this decision following a query from a concerned reader who frequents venues utilizing the Just Walk Out technology for convenient grab-and-go food and beverage service. Despite the physical presence of palm-scanning devices at these locations, the functionality will no longer be available. Instead, customers can utilize traditional payment methods such as credit/debit cards and mobile wallets.
The company recently announced the discontinuation of Amazon One on June 3 due to low customer adoption rates. Alongside this decision, Amazon also revealed the closure of all 72 Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores.
Originating from Amazon Go stores, the Just Walk Out technology utilizes cameras and sensors to allow customers to grab items and exit without waiting in line. While initially exclusive to Amazon’s first-party operations, the system is now licensed to third-party retailers, stadiums, hospitals, and other venues across five countries, totaling over 360 locations.
Introduced in 2020, Amazon One was not initially part of the Just Walk Out system launched in 2018. However, it quickly became a prominent feature of the technology, especially as it expanded to various third-party venues. Amazon One also functioned independently for streamlined checkout processes, with notable implementations at over 500 Whole Foods stores in 2023.
Despite its convenience, Amazon One faced privacy concerns, including backlash from artists at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in 2022. These concerns arose after ticketing company AXS announced its integration of Amazon One for ticketing pedestals.
Prior to the announcement of Amazon One’s discontinuation, Amazon highlighted the growth of Just Walk Out technology in mid-January. The company unveiled new portable RFID checkout lanes that can be quickly deployed for pop-up shops and events. Over the past year, the technology has processed millions of items and shopping sessions, with significant deployments at venues like Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Notable results from Just Walk Out deployments include a 47% increase in per-game sales at Seattle’s Lumen Field, reduced wait times at BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospital in Florida, and a significant decrease in retail theft at UC San Diego.
