Last week, Amazon deployed its just-walk-out technology for the first time in a new full-size Amazon Fresh grocery store.

Now customers can save time shopping for groceries by skipping the checkout queue at The Marketplace at Factoria in Bellevue, Washington.

Vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, prepared foods and pastries can be bought using just-walk-out or traditional shopping in one full-size grocery store.

In this store, customers can come in, shop for the groceries they want and skip the checkout queue. Alternatively, they can opt to shop using traditional checkout lanes, staffed by employees, who are also available throughout the store for assistance.

“The feedback has been fantastic, with customers noting that skipping the checkout allows them to save time and reduce contact in stores,” said Dilip Kumar, vice president of physical retail and technology at Amazon.

Amazon Fresh Bellevue is open every day from 7am to 10pm. 

Just-walk-out technology is made possible by a combination of computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning, and adds convenience to grocery shopping by giving customers the option to come in, pick up what they want and skip the checkout when they’re done. Anyone shopping at the store can take advantage of the technology, which connects to an Amazon account or credit card. Shoppers are prompted at the store’s entry gates to choose if they want to use just-walk-out shopping or the traditional checkout lanes.

Those who opt for just-walk-out shopping can enter the store in three ways: They can scan the QR code in their Amazon app, use Amazon One to scan their palm, or insert a credit or debit card linked to their Amazon account. Each option will open the just-walk-out gates.

Once inside the store, they can shop as normal. Anything they take off the shelf is automatically added to their virtual cart, and anything they put back on the shelf comes out of their virtual cart. At the end of their trip, they simply scan or insert their entry method again to exit.

“Customers have enjoyed the effortless shopping experience enabled by our just-walk-out technology at our Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, and third-party retailer stores,” said Kumar. “Bringing just-walk-out technology to a full-size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue showcases the technology’s continued ability to scale and adapt to new environments and selection. I’m thrilled it’ll help even more customers enjoy an easier and faster way to shop and can’t wait to get their feedback on this latest just-walk-out offering.”

Anyone can shop at Amazon Fresh. Those who want a traditional shopping experience can enter the store through the designated gates and use one of the staffed checkout lanes to pay with cash, credit or debit card, Amazon One, the in-store code in the Amazon App, or Snap EBT. 

Shoppers who use the just-walk-out experience will be sent digital receipts, also available in their Amazon account. Traditional checkout shoppers will get a paper receipt, and recognised Amazon customers will also receive a digital receipt.

The first Amazon Fresh store opened in August 2020. Since then, the company has opened 13 stores across California, Illinois and Virginia. 

“We’ve received incredible feedback from customers at our Amazon Fresh stores in California, Illinois and Virginia about our low prices and broad grocery selection, as well as innovations to make shopping simpler and more convenient, like free grocery delivery and pickup for Prime members, Amazon.com returns capabilities, and Alexa shopping,” said Jeff Helbling, vice president of Amazon Fresh Stores. “Customers love the convenience, selection and value offered by Amazon Fresh, and now customers in Bellevue will get to experience the added convenience of just-walk-out shopping in our newest Amazon Fresh store.”