The “Just Walk Out” retail model is coming to Greece with the opening of the first supermarket store that operates without staff, opening in Athens.
The store, which belongs to the convenience store category, is located in Nea Smyrni, southern Athens, with Core Innovations aspiring to gradually use this model to operate all the stores it has acquired, a total of 25.
This model relies on a sophisticated combination of technologies to accurately track every product and every customer’s movement through ceiling cameras, shelf sensors, and entry/exit gates. The entire process is linked to a customer’s digital account. To enter, the customer must first scan a QR code (or similar identifier) using a dedicated smartphone app or a credit/debit card on file.
By using this model, stores can operate around the clock without the high cost of labor. Also, the combination of cameras and sensors provides real-time, highly accurate inventory data, reducing waste and theft.
“Just Walk Out” stores pioneered by Amazon
The “Just Walk Out” concept was pioneered and is most strongly associated with Amazon, which launched its first Amazon Go store in Seattle in 2018. Amazon has also deployed the “Just Walk Out” technology in its larger-scale grocery chain, Amazon Fresh, offering a full supermarket experience without cashiers.
The model is also common in major tech markets globally. In China, numerous smaller, fully automated convenience stores exist in large cities, often leveraging facial recognition for entry and payment.
In South Korea, automated stores are being deployed, particularly in areas with high foot traffic where speed is essential.
Retailers in the Netherlands and Germany, such as Albert Heijn (in the Netherlands), have piloted and deployed staffless convenience stores for use in corporate offices or at transport hubs.
