With RFID Lanes, Amazon Makes ‘Just Walk Out’ Easier and Faster
Amazon announced self-contained RFID checkout lanes for retailers to quickly set up “Just Walk Out” technology that eliminates wait times for shoppers.
No one likes waiting for checkout — that’s why Amazon is leaning further into RFID for its “Just Walk Out” technology. The retail giant is now offering all-in-one RFID checkout lanes that make it easy for retailers to set up fast, frictionless, automated checkout powered by RFID.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out RFID lanes are self-contained units that enable retailers and venues to add RFID-checkout capabilities “in as little as a day,” Mouni R., who leads the Amazon Just Walk Out product and design teams, wrote in an announcement November 13. Shoppers can avoid checkout lines by simply carrying their purchases through an RFID lane, quickly tapping their payment card or phone along the way.
Just Walk Out has been catching on especially at sports and entertainment venues, where large crowds shop for food, drinks, and souvenirs — often in waves, at peak times before an event or during breaks. At Seattle’s Lumen Field football stadium, for example, the Seahawks Pro Shop Outlet uses RFID-enabled Just Walk Out technology for clothes, hats, shoes, and other soft lines.
Just Walk Out RFID lanes delivered checkout speeds up to four times faster than traditional POS systems.
The new RFID lanes, Amazon said, make it easier for retailers to deploy RFID-powered points of sale (POS). The units are intended not just for permanent locations, but also for expanding checkout throughput during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday and holiday sales, and quickly creating pop-up shops in previously unused spaces.
“In pilots, Just Walk Out RFID lanes delivered checkout speeds up to four times faster than traditional POS systems, making them ideal for fast-paced settings, sporting events, and concerts,” wrote Mouni R. “Pilot customers also experienced a 40% reduction in required labor to operate a store and reduced the time to complete cycle counts by 96%.”
How RFID automated checkout works
Amazon works with Avery Dennison to provide RFID tags for merchandise. These RFID tags — specifically RAIN RFID tags — feature tiny radio chips that enable item-level identification of every tagged product.
At a self-checkout kiosk like a Just Walk Out RFID lane, a RAIN RFID reader automatically identifies every tagged item near-instantaneously. Shoppers don’t have to fumble around with barcodes and scan them one-by-one. Instead, they can just pay and go.
“Just Walk Out provides the lane hardware, tag printer, tag printing UI, and handheld tooling required for store operations,” wrote Mouni R. “You just provide the power and connectivity, and tag your items.”
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As with any retail RAIN RFID solution, Just Walk Out integrates into retailers’ existing enterprise systems, where data can also be used for inventory management, sales analytics, and more.
Beyond automated checkout, RAIN RFID solutions deliver real-time inventory visibility, enable omnichannel fulfillment, strengthen loss prevention, and deliver delightful customer experiences. Savvy global brands like Uniqlo, Decathlon, and Inditex already take advantage of RAIN RFID throughout their supply chains all the way to automated self-checkout.
Here’s how a RAIN RFID solution typically works in retail:
- Each item is tagged with a RAIN RFID tag, which includes a thin antenna and a tiny tag chip containing an identifier for that item. These tags are so small they can be embedded in labels, hangtags, packaging, or even fabric tags.
- RAIN RFID readers, either handheld or fixed at transition points (such as points of sale), use radio signals to read the identifiers stored on those tag chips. Unlike barcodes, up to 1,000 RAIN RFID tags can be read per second, without direct line of sight and at a distance of up to 10 meters (30 feet).
- Readers send the tag data to software that interfaces with existing enterprise systems. Along with optimizing inventory management, retailers can use point-of-sale and store-exit data to improve real-time visibility, increase efficiency, and enhance the shopper experience.
RAIN RFID is the foundation of the Impinj platform, which enables people and enterprises to create a boundless Internet of Things. It is a flexible, low-cost, wireless technology that can identify what an item is, where it is, and even its condition — all in real time.
Benefits of RAIN RFID in retail
Consumers and retailers alike enjoy the benefits of RAIN RFID — for automated checkout, yes, but across an entire operation. With Just Walk Out RFID lanes, Amazon is reducing the barriers to entry for retailers and venues that want to adopt RFID.
“The technology has drastically improved the fan experience by eliminating checkout lines,” said Lauren Gurley, senior manager of retail operations for the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. “I’m also looking forward to implementing the RFID tagging across our venue for the inventory management capabilities before the next season. That’s just as big, if not a bigger opportunity, than speeding up checkout.”
Retail solutions built on RAIN RFID and the Impinj platform enable:
- Inventory management — Automate inventory counting for powerful insights into operations
- Omnichannel fulfillment — Deliver best-in-class online operations with accurate, real-time inventory data
- Loss prevention — Gain advanced protection and heightened visibility into all loss events
- Supply chain automation — Achieve full visibility and control with accurate, automated high-speed systems
- Sales floor replenishment — Ensure timely, data-driven replenishment of stock on the sales floor
- Product authentication — Fight counterfeits with fast, automated verification of items as genuine
- Automated self-checkout — Enable touch-free, hassle-free checkout and seamless returns
Learn more about RAIN RFID solutions for retail, and how the Impinj platform enables automated self-checkout, inventory management, loss prevention, and more retail use cases.
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Friday, December 6, 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gaylene Meyer
Former Vice President of Global Marketing and Demand
Gaylene Meyer led a team focused on delivering world-class marketing and communications that engage partners and customers worldwide.
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