Tesco is taking the fight for checkout-free shopping to Amazon after installing “just walk out” technology at its Holborn Express store.
It recently closed the site to install new cameras, which eliminate the need for tills by detecting when customers pick up an item.
However, the Big 4 grocer has not confirmed when the new system will launch.
Tesco began trialling the technology, provided by Israeli firm Trigo, at its head office in Welwyn Garden City three years ago.
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In June, chief executive Ken Murphy announced plans to test it “in a more urban environment”.
“One of the joys of machine learning is it is continuously improving, so we’re feeling confident that we can put it into another store with a higher traffic,” he said.
Selecting London will be seen as a step onto Amazon’s turf, which has opened five checkout-free shops in the capital since March.
The refurbished Tesco is under 3 miles from the Amazon Fresh on Chalk Farm Road, the US giant’s most recently-unveiled store.
Last month, it was revealed that Big 4 rival Morrisons was testing till-free shopping at its head office in Bradford.
It intends to trial the scheme, known internally as “Project Sarah”, at a “couple” of new locations, but is yet to say when or where.
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1 Comment. Leave new
I wonder how accurate the whole concept is, it would be interesting to see the stock results when they do their first stocktake.