Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is now making strides in the healthcare sector with the introduction of “badge pay” at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Healthcare professionals are now able to conveniently purchase food and beverages around the clock by scanning their employee badge.
This marks a significant milestone because St. Joseph’s/Candler is the first U.S. hospital to implement the technology, complete with badge pay capabilities.
For healthcare workers, the process is streamlined. Upon entry to the store, staff can scan their badge, pick their desired items, and exit. Their purchase is automatically deducted from their payroll deduct account. The purchase amount is deducted from their payroll deduct account, providing a hassle-free shopping experience.
Jon Jenkins, Vice President of Just Walk Out technology stated:
“This first-of-its-kind implementation enabling employee badge pay delivers a new level of convenience to hospital employees and visitors, enabling them to access refreshments and food day and night without waiting in line. We look forward to bringing Just Walk Out technology to more healthcare facilities across the U.S. and expanding employee badge pay to additional locations.”
How’s Cashierless Tech Faring?
Amazon has been betting big on its cashierless technology, working to expand the number of stores it has in the U.S. And this latest extension into the healthcare sector highlights how bullish the e-commerce giant is on the long-term success of Just Walk Out. There’s a lot of opportunity with the technology, particularly as it addresses a critical pain point in retail—consumers really don’t like waiting in lines.
The Just Walk Out technology, a biometric self-checkout system, was launched in 2020. It’s currently deployed in more than 20 Amazon Go stores, more than 40 fresh grocery stores, and within two Whole Foods store locations.
However, since its launch, the e-commerce giant has seen little uptake by retailers, according to a report from The Information. The lack of interest stems from various issues. Some retailers have reported that there was a significant effort and cost required for integration. Others reported that they would need to close their stores for extended periods of time just to have the network cameras and automated smart gates installed. Staff would also be required to perform manual reviews to ensure efficiency.
As Amazon continues invest in the technology and enhance the customer experience, it may need to take a closer look at the factors that are impeding adoption and address them accordingly.