Cashierless Challenger Zippin Debuts In San Francisco

Zippin, the cashierless store operator, is beating Amazon and its Amazon Go stores to the punch, opening up its first cashierless store in San Francisco.

VentureBeat reported that new cashierless stores from Amazon are opening in San Francisco and Chicago, but there is no timeline for that. The retailer opened its first Amazon Go store in Seattle in January of this year after being in development for five years. It’s located on the ground floor of the eCommerce giant’s new headquarters.

At the Zippin store, customers have to first download the app that provides them with a QR code that they scan when they enter the store. After that, they shop the aisle, leave when they are done shopping and receive their receipt via email, noted VentureBeat. Just like Amazon, the store relies on sensors and scales to detect which items are taken off the shelf, while cameras with built-in computer vision are used to record the transactions and track the movements of the customer in the store.

During the first week of operations, the store would be open for one hour a day only for a limited number of customers. In the middle of September, it will be made available to the public for a set amount of hours.

In July, reports surfaced that another Amazon Go will soon open, representing another step toward a future when consumers will pay for their groceries without having to stand and wait in checkout lanes. The new store will also be located in Seattle, and according to Geekwire, will stand about a mile away from the other location. In a statement, Amazon said, “We are excited to bring Amazon Go to 920 5th Avenue in Seattle. The store will open in Fall 2018.”