The supermarket checkout has long been a top complaint among customers. Amazon shook up the industry in 2018 with the launch of its first autonomous store, Amazon Go. The “Just Walk Out” system used a dedicated app and an array of cameras and sensors. After linking a bank account or credit card, customers could walk into the store, pick and bag their items, and leave without stopping at a checkout.
Six years later, Amazon is closing several of these stores. Despite sufficient foot traffic, profitability has been elusive. In the meantime, other retailers have launched their own trials. For example, Aldi opened an autonomous store called Shop & Go in the Netherlands. Despite adjusting payment options, the pilot ended after just over two years. Similarly, Carrefour’s cashierless Carrefour Flash store in France closed two years after its debut.
In contrast, Rewe recently launched a new autonomous Grab&Go store format under the Rewe Ready banner. This store is located at an electric vehicle fast charging station, the unmanned store offers around 250 items and uses AI-driven technology for automatic payment as customers leave. It is one of four smart store concepts the retailer is currently testing.
In the UK, Tesco continues to operate its GetGo concept, launched three years ago, while Sainsbury’s SmartShop Pick & Go collaborates with AI startups focusing on ease of use and privacy. Carrefour Belgium just opened an autonomous shop at its headquarters near Brussels. It is called Buybye, measures 18 sqm, works with an app, and was developed in collaboration with start-up Reckon AI.
While some retailers have struggled to make autonomous stores profitable, the concept of cashierless shopping is far from dead. Instead, it is evolving. Early pioneers like Amazon may be scaling back, but other players, such as Rewe and Tesco, are refining the model with new technologies and strategic locations. As AI, computer vision, and customer demand for frictionless shopping experiences continue to advance, the next generation of cashierless stores could overcome today’s challenges. Success will likely depend on balancing operational efficiency with customer convenience, proving that the future of retail may still be a checkout-free one.