Amazon has brought a change in the retail industry by introducing a cashier-less system. However, there is fierce competition for the top spot, especially with new players stepping up their game.
Other companies in the cashier-less retail industry are also following the same business model and trying to succeed and hit the top spot in the market.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Go stores use advanced technology like computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning to offer a seamless, checkout-free shopping experience.
- Amazon Go primarily focuses on grocery items, while competitors may have a wider range of products and services.
- Amazon Go’s convenience and speed differentiate it from traditional brick-and-mortar stores, which often require waiting in line for checkout.
Amazon Go vs Competitors
The difference between Amazon Go and Competitors is that they have different markets. A chain of convenience stores managed by the multinational technology company Amazon and located in the United States of America is known as Amazon Go. On the other hand, some other stores are based on a similar concept and run in the autonomous offline store business model. These are Alibaba’s Tao Café and Hema, San Francisco-based Standard Cognition, Netherlands’ Albert Heijn, and more.
Amazon Go is the best example of Amazon’s obsession with simplifying the complex. Amazon has eliminated the worst thing about retail shopping – the checkout lines.
That idea was brought into use by Amazon when it announced Amazon Go – a new concept of physical shopping.
The store allowed shoppers to walk in, grab the stuff they wanted, and leave without interacting with the cashier. The first Amazon Go store was opened in 2018 in Seattle.
Amazon isn’t only changing the retail game. As new players step up their game, the competition for the top spot is fierce.
Alibaba, for instance, has revolutionized the retail experience with its cashier-less grocery store, Hema, and its new business model.
Hema was launched in 2015 as an online and offline business model that integrates products and services.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Amazon Go | Competitors |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A chain of convenience stores managed by the multinational technology company Amazon in the United States of America. | Some other stores based on a similar concept and run in the autonomous offline store business model are Alibaba’s Tao Café and Hema, San Francisco-based Standard Cognition, Netherlands’ Albert Heijn, etc. |
| Technology used | It has its basis on the intelligent ambient system and uses image recognition, AI, and machine learning to monitor. | Competitors like Alibaba use technologies like facial recognition, and other companies like Dirty lemon and Lotte use payment through SMS and Biometric verification, etc. |
| Quantity | Have a lesser number of stores located in the United States. | Competitors like Alibaba have more convenience stores in China. |
| Approximate number | Has around 21 stores across the USA. | Competitors like Alibaba have around 150 stores all around China. |
| Expansion | Is not as big as its competitors. | Competitors like Alibaba are more expanded and more significant than Amazon Go. |
What is Amazon Go?
A chain of convenience stores managed by the multinational technology company Amazon and located in the United States of America is known as Amazon Go.
Amazon Go is the best example of Amazon’s obsession with simplifying the complex. Amazon has eliminated the worst thing about retail shopping – the checkout lines.
That idea was brought into use by Amazon when it announced Amazon Go – a new concept of physical shopping.
Its first shop was opened in 2018 in Seattle. The company has approximately 20 stores in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York as of 2019.
As estimated by analysts, the cost of setting up an Amazon Go convenience store costs about 1 million dollars in technology.
Computer vision and image recognition sensors and cameras and extensive wireless networking are included in this cost.
Shoppers at Amazon Go stores will need an Amazon account and a smartphone with the Amazon Go app.
After verifying their identity with a QR code generated by the Amazon Go app, they can walk into the convenience store and grab the items from the shelves.
As an advanced feature, they can leave the store without having to stop by any cash registers. Their Amazon account will be charged, and the receipt will itself be available in the app.
What is Competitors?
Amazon isn’t only changing the retail game. As new players step up their game, the competition for the top spot is fierce.
Some other stores are based on a similar concept and run in the autonomous offline store business model. Alibaba’s cashier-less grocery store is reimagining the retail experience.
With its launch in 2015, Hema offers both online and offline products and services. China’s Hema is an internet-powered supermarket, like Amazon Go, with media, entertainment, and financial features.
Hema, the company’s internet-powered retail offering, is the company’s version of “New Retail.”
Competitors like Alibaba use technologies like facial recognition and other companies like Dirty Lemon and Lotte use payment through SMS and Biometric verification, etc.
Alibaba is also more expanded and more significant than Amazon Go and has around 150 convenience stores all over China.
Some other retail businesses operating with the same model are also fighting to be successful in this field.
Main Differences Between Amazon Go and Competitors
- Amazon Go is a convenience store chain managed by the multinational technology company Amazon. On the other hand, some other stores based on a similar concept and run in the autonomous offline store business model are Alibaba’s Tao Café and Hema, San Francisco-based Standard Cognition etc.
- The former has its basis in the intelligent ambient system and uses image recognition, AI, and machine learning to monitor. On the other hand, Competitors like Alibaba use technologies like facial recognition, and other companies like Dirty Lemon and Lotte use payment through SMS and Biometric verification, etc.
- Amazon Go Have a lesser number of stores located in the United States. On the other hand, Competitors like Alibaba have more convenience stores in China.
- Amazon Go has around 21 stores running across the USA. On the other hand, Competitors like Alibaba have around 150 stores all around China
- Amazon Go is not as big as its competitors. On the other hand, Competitors like Alibaba are more expanded and more significant than the former.
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2043886918819092
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/381640
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
