Just Walk Out technology by Amazon has transformed the shopping experience at more than 400 stores globally in the U.S., UK, Australia, France, and Canada. The autonomous retail solution enables fast, frictionless transactions for customers and increased operational efficiency for retailers.
Many venues that see high customer volumes and round-the-clock traffic are turning to autonomous checkout to avoid bottlenecks, resolve staffing issues, and expand service. These include stadiums, airports, hospitals, universities, and convenience stores.
Using advanced AI, computer vision, and optional RFID lanes, Just Walk Out technology tracks items in real time and charges shoppers automatically when they exit. The system uses deep machine learning models trained on large datasets of simulated shopping scenarios to accurately track items customers take from shelves, even in crowded areas.
Central to this seamless experience is how shoppers are verified when they enter a store, and Just Walk Out technology offers several flexible authentication options to fit different retail environments.
Door authorization meant we could take a standard pre-fabricated structure, convert it into a Just Walk Out store, and deploy at an IONNA Rechargery in record time, giving drivers the amenities they crave, enabled by Just Walk Out’s accurate sales of food and beverage items, and without the need of a full-time attendant at checkout.
Verifying shoppers to streamline transactions
With modular authentication pedestals, retailers gain flexibility in how and where shoppers are verified. The pedestals can be positioned at either the entry or exit of a store, allowing retailers to keep their existing payment processor relationships intact without disrupting established vendor agreements.
Levy, a restaurant and hospitality company specializing in providing food and beverage to major entertainment and sports venues, has implemented modular authentication pedestals in its newest locations, expediting store rollout.
“We were able to get the authentication pedestals installed and operating within days. Plus, our customers have been delighted by the simple entry experience, finding it intuitive and easy to enter our stores,” said Harry Ridley, head of technology at Levy.
Because the pedestals are modular, retailers can mix and match authentication methods, including QR code scanners, credit card readers, and badge readers, swapping hardware in just a few hours. For example, a university campus store could start with QR and credit card readers, then later add an RFID badge reader to let students authenticate with their school IDs. Switching payment processors is equally simple: just replace the card reader without reconfiguring the pedestal itself.
Just Walk Out technology integrates with payment providers including Adyen, a leading global payment provider that, through Adyen UK, supports American Express users outside the U.S., and Shift4, a leading U.S. payment provider in sports and hospitality.
Another authentication choice: door authorization
For retailers with existing spaces that have standard doors, door authorization offers a faster, lower-cost path to autonomous checkout. Instead of installing gate lanes, authentication pedestals connect directly to the door, reducing construction footprint and costs while maintaining controlled store access. This setup also enables 24/7 operation without additional staffing at checkout.
Shoppers simply scan their payment method at the door to gain access, then shop freely within the store. Just Walk Out technology automatically tracks items in each shopper’s virtual cart as they take or return items from the shelves. When they are done with their trip, shoppers simply exit through the door and are charged for any purchases after they exit.
IONNA, a fast-charging network for electric vehicles, uses Just Walk Out technology’s door authentication for its Rechargery stores. “Door authorization meant we could take a standard pre-fabricated structure, convert it into a Just Walk Out store, and deploy at an IONNA Rechargery in record time, giving drivers the amenities they crave, enabled by Just Walk Out’s accurate sales of food and beverage items, and without the need of a full-time attendant at checkout,” said Ricardo Stamatti, chief product officer of IONNA. “Amazon provided the right technology, scale, reliability, and joint vision of the future that others couldn’t.”
How to get started using Just Walk Out technology
Just Walk Out technology can be implemented swiftly: A simple retrofit can be completed in weeks, while new builds can happen within months. With an extensive network of certified partners that handle everything from initial project management and store design to procurement and installation, retailers can achieve a fast and smooth transition to autonomous retail, with expert support throughout the process. Stores have the flexibility to work with certified partners or their own preferred contractors.
Retailers who have adopted the technology are already seeing results. The University of California San Diego, which retrofitted three campus convenience stores, saw a 14% increase in daily transactions, 25% higher sales of fresh prepared foods, and a 15–20 minute reduction in average checkout line wait time for students, faculty, and staff.
Interested in learning about bringing Just Walk Out technology to your business? Get in touch.
